The facial artery (also known as the external maxillary artery) arises from the external carotid artery at the level of the angle of the mandible.

The facial artery crosses the submandibular triangle of the neck and ascends forward beneath the digastric muscle and the stylohyoid muscle, over which it arches upwards and grooves to emerge on the posterior surface of the submandibular gland. Then the artery curves around the base of the mandible, anterior to the masseter muscle, and emerges on the face.

On the face, the artery passes upward, lateral to the corner of the mouth and lateral surface of the external nose. It ends at the medial commissure of the eye as the angular artery, which forms an anastomosis with the dorsal nasal artery of the ophthalmic artery. Thus the area of the medial commissure contains an anastomosis between the branches of the external carotid and internal carotid arteries.

On its course, the facial artery gives off several branches, including:

Ascending palatine artery - provide the arterial blood supply to the soft palate and forms anastomoses with the branches of the descending palatine artery;
Tonsillar artery - supplies the palatine tonsils;
Submental artery - it goes along the external surface of the inferior wall of the oral cavity and supplies the mentioned part of the oral cavity and also the submandibular gland;
Glandular branches - branches of the facial artery at the site where the artery crosses the submandibular gland, therefore glandular branches supply the mentioned gland;
Superior labial artery - arises from the facial artery at the angle of the mouth, it goes along the upper lip and supplies it; this artery forms an anastomosis with the same artery of the opposite side;
Inferior labial artery - also arises from the facial artery at the angle of the mouth and goes along the lower lip, and supplies it; the same as the superior labial artery, this artery also forms an anastomosis with the same artery of the opposite side;
Lateral nasal branch - supplies the dorsum and ala of the nose.

The ascending palatine, tonsillar, submental artery and glandular branches arise from the facial artery while it goes through the neck (cervical branches), while the superior and inferior labial arteries and lateral nasal branch arise from it on the face (facial branches).

Overall, the facial artery with its branches supplies the submandibular gland, lips, chin, most of the facial muscles, tongue, pharyngotympanic tube (Eustachian tube), soft palate and tonsils.

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Facial artery