Occipital artery
Occipital Artery
Occipital artery (pronunciation: /ɒkˈsɪpɪtəl ˈɑːrtəri/) is a significant artery in the human body that supplies blood to the posterior part of the scalp and the upper part of the neck.
Etymology
The term "occipital" is derived from the Latin word "occiput" meaning "back of the skull" and "artery" from the Greek word "arteria" meaning "windpipe, artery".
Anatomy
The occipital artery arises from the external carotid artery and travels upwards, passing through the posterior part of the scalp. It is responsible for supplying blood to the posterior scalp, the sternocleidomastoid muscle, and the upper part of the neck.
Branches
The occipital artery has several branches, including the sternocleidomastoid branch, meningeal branch, mastoid branch, and auricular branch. Each of these branches plays a crucial role in supplying blood to different parts of the head and neck.
Clinical Significance
The occipital artery is of clinical significance as it can be involved in various medical conditions such as occipital artery aneurysm, occipital artery thrombosis, and occipital artery occlusion. It is also used in occipital artery flap procedures for reconstructive surgery.
Related Terms
- External carotid artery
- Scalp
- Sternocleidomastoid muscle
- Neck
- Occipital artery aneurysm
- Occipital artery thrombosis
- Occipital artery occlusion
- Occipital artery flap
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Occipital artery
- Wikipedia's article - Occipital artery
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