What does the external carotid artery supply blood to?

The external carotid artery is primarily responsible for supplying blood to the face and neck. It branches off into several arteries that provide blood to various structures in these regions, including the scalp, face, jaw, neck, and even parts of the ear. This arterial pathway plays a crucial role in delivering oxygenated blood to essential muscles, skin tissues, and the other vital structures in the face and neck.

In contrast, the internal carotid artery supplies blood to the brain, which distinguishes the vascular territories served by the external and internal carotid arteries. While the external carotid artery does have branches that may extend towards areas of the neck, its most significant contributions are indeed to the facial and neck regions. The thorax is supplied by other major vessels, such as the subclavian and thoracic aorta, which indicates the specificity of the external carotid artery's influence primarily to the head and neck areas.