(3) The maxillary artery. At the level of the lower part of the ear, the
external carotid divides into two main terminal branches. These two branches are the
maxillary artery and the superficial temporal artery. See figure 2-14. It is from the
maxillary artery that various branches arise, supplying the bones of the jaws, the teeth,
and their supporting tissues. It is this artery that is of particular interest in dentistry.
b. Venous Blood. Veins carry blood from the tissues of the body back to the
heart, following the same general arrangement as the arteries. The major veins from
the brain and the facial structures join the internal jugular vein. See figure 2-15.
(1) The cavernous sinus. Part of the venous system within the skull is
enclosed between the two layers of the dura mater, which is the tough, fibrous
membrane that envelops the brain. There is a channel for these veins which is called
the cavernous sinus. See figure 2-15.
Figure 2-15. Veins of the head.
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