Variations in the Branching Pattern of the Human External Carotid Artery Within a Polish Sub-Population

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology | Vol. 15, No. 9, September 2026 | pp. 269–280

DOI: 10.46882/2026/IJAP/000190

Article Type: Original Research Article

Title: Variations in the Branching Pattern of the Human External Carotid Artery Within a Polish Sub-Population

Names of Authors: Janusz K. Kowalski¹, Agnieszka M. Wiśniewska²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland; ²Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland

Abstract:
The external carotid artery (ECA) exhibits rich branching variations that complicate radical neck dissections, carotid endarterectomies, and transcatheter embolizations. This study categorized the branching sequences and anatomical landmarks of the ECA within a Polish population group. One hundred lower neck specimens from fifty adult cadavers were examined using traditional dissection methods. The origin level of the ECA relative to the thyroid cartilage was identified, and the prevalence of common trunks, such as the linguofacial and thyrolingual trunks, was assessed. The bifurcation of the common carotid artery occurred at the level of the upper border of the thyroid cartilage in 64.0% of cases. A high bifurcation (above the hyoid bone) was observed in 28.0%, while a low origin occurred in 8.0% of specimens. The superior thyroid, lingual, and facial arteries arose as separate branches in 72.0% of cases. A linguofacial trunk was identified in 18.0% of limbs, whereas a thyrolingual trunk appeared in 6.0%. A rare common thyrolinguofacial trunk was documented in 4.0% of the cases. These anatomical distributions confirm that variations in the proximal branches of the ECA are highly prevalent, emphasizing the need for meticulous vascular mapping prior to plastic reconstruction or oncological resections in the anterior neck.

Keywords: External Carotid Artery, Anatomical Variations, Linguofacial Trunk, Carotid Bifurcation, Cadaveric Dissection

Manuscript Timeline: Received: July 22, 2026; Revised: August 29, 2026; Accepted: September 11, 2026; Published: September 28, 2026

Citation: Kowalski J.K., & Wiśniewska A.M. (2026). Variations in the Branching Pattern of the Human External Carotid Artery Within a Polish Sub-Population. International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, 15(9), 269–280. DOI: 10.46882/2026/IJAP/000190

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