Most of the arterial supply to the face comes from the facial artery, which branches directly from the external carotid artery (Figs. 9.1, 9.2, and 9.3). Other major external carotid artery branches include the superior thyroid, ascending pharyngeal, lingual, occipital, posterior auricular, superficial temporal, and maxillary arteries. A more minor arterial supply, mainly to the upper portion of the face, comes from the ophthalmic artery, the first branch of the internal carotid, arising just distal to the cavernous sinus. This provides the primary blood supply to the eye, extraocular muscles, lacrimal gland, upper nose, and parts of the forehead.