(anatomy) An inferior artery that arises from the facial artery and divides into two branches of which one supplies the soft palate and the palatine glands and the other supplies especially the tonsils and the eustachian tube.

(anatomy) One of two arteries supplying the thyroid gland and nearby structures at the front of the neck that branches from the thyrocervical trunk and that divides to form branches supplying the inferior portion of the thyroid gland and anastomosing with the superior thyroid artery or with a corresponding branch from the opposite side.

(anatomy) Either of the two terminal branches of each external carotid artery that pass upward over the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, and are distributed by way of branches especially to the more superficial parts of the forehead and sides of the head and face.

(anatomy) Synonym of maxillary artery.

plural of common iliac artery

plural of external iliac artery

(anatomy) The inner branch of the common iliac artery on either side of the body.

(anatomy) The outer branch of the common iliac artery on either side of the body that passes beneath the inguinal ligament to become the femoral artery.

(anatomy) Either of the two large arteries arising from the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta which occurs at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra.

(anatomy) A large unpaired artery that arises from the abdominal aorta just below the celiac artery at the level of the first lumbar vertebra, and supplies the intestine from the distal half of the duodenum through two-thirds of the transverse colon, as well as the head of the pancreas.