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 The splenius muscles are: *Splenius capitis muscle *Splenius cervicis muscle Their origins are in the upper thoracic and lower cervical spinous process The spinal column, a defining synapomorphy shared by nearly all vertebrates, Hagfish are ...

, giving off branches which pierce that muscle to supply the

Trapezius The trapezius is a large paired trapezoid-shaped surface muscle that extends longitudinally from the occipital bone to the lower thoracic vertebrae of the spine and laterally to the spine of the scapula. It moves the scapula and supports th ...

and anastomose with the ascending branch of the

transverse cervical The transverse cervical artery (transverse artery of neck or transversa colli artery) is an artery in the neck and a branch of the thyrocervical trunk, running at a higher level than the suprascapular artery. Structure It passes transversely ...

. * 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.

References

Arteries of the head and neck {{circulatory-stub