Ascending pharyngeal artery

The ascending pharyngeal artery is the only branch arising from the medial aspect of the external carotid artery. It arises as a short common trunk near the origin of the external carotid that passes vertically upwards along the lateral side of the pharynx. At the level of the inferior border of the maxilla, the common trunk divides into two major trunks - pharyngeal trunk and neuromeningeal trunk.