The descending branch of occipital artery, the largest branch of the occipital, descends on the back of the neck, and divides into a superficial and deep portion.
- The superficial portion runs beneath the Splenius, giving off branches which pierce that muscle to supply the Trapezius and anastomose with the ascending branch of the transverse cervical.
- The deep portion runs down between the Semispinales capitis and colli, and anastomoses with the vertebral and with the a. profunda cervicalis, a branch of the costocervical trunk.
The anastomosis between these vessels assists in establishing the collateral circulation after ligature of the common carotid or subclavian artery.
This article incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy.
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