Sternocleidomastoid branches of occipital artery

Artery: Sternocleidomastoid branches of occipital artery
The arteries of the face and scalp.
Latin	rami sternocleidomastoidei arteriae occipitalis
Gray's	subject #144 556
Source	occipital artery
Dorlands / Elsevier	r_02/12692073

The sternocleidomastoid branches of occipital artery (sternocleidomastoid artery) generally arises from the occipital close to its commencement, but sometimes springs directly from the external carotid.

It passes downward and backward over the hypoglossal nerve, and enters the substance of the muscle, in company with the accessory nerve.

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