Anat Cell Biol.  2021 Jun;54(2):137-142. 10.5115/acb.20.308.

Review of the external carotid plexus: anatomy, function, and clinical manifestations

• Razipour SE
• Zarrintan S
• Mathkour M
• Iwanaga J
• Dumont AS
• Tubbs RS

• KMID: 2516897
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.20.308

Abstract

The external carotid plexus is a combination of postganglionic sympathetic fibers derived from the superior cervical ganglion. This plexus travels along the external carotid artery and continues onto the artery’s branches. The external carotid plexus plays an important role in innervating the mid and lower face. Therefore, implications to the plexus may result in facial abnormalities. Herein, we review the anatomy, function, and review its clinical applications.

Keyword

External carotid plexus; Anatomy; General surgery; Sympathetic fiber; External carotid artery

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Schematic drawing illustrating the external carotid plexus. Note the nervous plexus lying on the external carotid artery and its branches e.g., lingual artery and superior thyroid artery.

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  Fig. 2 Schematic of the source of the external carotid plexus on the right side. The superior medial two branches (*) of the superior sympathetic ganglion are shown as the main contributions to the plexus which at its source is seen at the circle with contributions from a branch of the superior cervical ganglion that travels medial (dotted lines) to the external carotid artery and a branch of the ganglion that travels first along the STA then recurs up along the lateral surface of the external carotid artery. A third and unlabeled medial branch from the superior cervical ganglion travels to contribute to the intercarotid plexus between the origin of the external and internal carotid arteries at their origin from the common carotid artery. The combined upper two branches of the superior cervical ganglion will thus travel along the branches of the external carotid artery onto the face. STA, superior thyroid artery.

Reference

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