Corpus: Occipital artery

The occipital artery is a branch of the external carotid artery that supplies the occipital region and some of the dorsal neck muscles with arterial blood.

The occipital artery arises from the posterior part of the external carotid artery, opposite the facial artery. Its origin is near the lower edge of the posterior belly of the digastric muscle, which covers it along with the stylohyoid muscle.

The occipital artery is accompanied by the hypoglossal nerve, which winds around it. In its cranial course, it crosses the internal carotid artery, internal jugular vein, vagus nerve (cranial nerve X), and accessory nerve (cranial nerve XI).

It extends to the level of the space between the transverse process of the atlas and the mastoid process of the temporal bone. Here, it swings horizontally backward and forms a groove of the same name on the surface of the temporal bone. It is covered by the sternocleidomastoid muscle, splenius capitis muscle, and longissimus capitis muscle, and rests on the rectus capitis lateralis muscle, obliquus capitis superior muscle, and semispinalis capitis muscle.

Finally, it changes its course vertically upwards and winds through the fascia under the scalp into the occipital region, where it branches out into numerous branches. These branches anastomose with the posterior auricular artery and the superficial temporal artery, among others.

• Muscular branches (Rami musculares): Supply the digastric muscle, stylohyoid muscle, splenius muscle, and longissimus capitis muscle.
• Sternocleidomastoid branch (Ramus sternocleidomastoideus): Can also originate directly from the external carotid artery and supplies the sternocleidomastoid muscle. It is accompanied by the sternocleidomastoid vein.
• Auricular branch (Ramus auricularis): Supplies parts of the auricle.
• Meningeal branch (Ramus meningeus): Runs through the jugular foramen into the cranial cavity and supplies the dura mater in the posterior cranial fossa.
• Descending branch (Ramus descendens): The largest branch of the occipital artery, divided into a superficial and deep part. It supplies parts of the trapezius muscle and the skin and periosteum of the occipital region, and anastomoses with the deep cervical artery.