ABSTRACT
The facial artery (12), branch of external carotid, is palpable as it passes over the mandible, anterior to masseter (13). The left and right facial arteries anastomose freely. Veins converge on the facial vein (14), which joins the internal jugular. There may be deep connections to the cavernous sinus via the venous plexus around the pterygoid muscles (route for spread of infection).
