Corpus: Deep cervical artery

The deep cervical artery is a vascular branch arising from the costocervical trunk of the subclavian artery.

The deep cervical artery travels dorsally between the transverse process of the 7th cervical vertebra and the costal neck of the 1st rib, crossing over the 8th cervical nerve. It then curves cranially, passing between the semispinalis capitis and semispinalis cervicis muscles in the neck region, extending upward to the 2nd cervical vertebra (axis). In this area, it forms anastomoses with descending branches of the occipital artery and with branches of the vertebral artery.

The deep cervical artery primarily supplies blood to the deep muscles of the neck.