Occipital artery

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Occipital artery.PNG

The occipital artery ("occipital artery") is an arterial blood vessel in the head. It arises from the external carotid artery ( arteria carotis externa ).

Course in humans

The occipital artery arises opposite the exit of the facial artery ( arteria facialis ) and runs, covered by the digastric muscle and stylohyoid muscle , towards the back of the head. You are the XII. Cranial nerve ( hypoglossal nerve ). On its further path it crosses the inner carotid artery ( internal carotid artery ), the internal jugular vein , the vagus nerve and the accessory nerve . It finally branches under the head and neck muscles in the area of ​​the back of the head. Its terminal branch accompanies the major occipital nerve .