title: Descending branch of occipital artery
text: # Descending branch of occipital artery
  
  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, giving off branches which pierce that muscle to supply the Trapezius and anastomose with the ascending branch of the transverse cervical.
  * 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.
  
  