Arterial supply to the masseter muscle in the cow.

Abstract

Dissection of the cows injected with red-colored starch or latex revealed that the arteries which supplied the masseter muscle were the facial, external carotid, transverse facial, masseteric, and buccal arteries. The subdivided muscles of the masseter muscle received such various arteries and their branches, in the following manners. 1) The first and second superficial and intermediate masseter muscles received the masseteric branches from the facial and external carotid arteries as well as the transverse facial, masseteric, and buccal arteries. 2) The pars anterior of the deep masseter muscle received only the masseteric artery. 3) The pars posterior of the deep masseter muscle received the masseteric and transverse facial arteries. 4) The precursory layer of the maxillomandibular muscle received the masseteric, buccal, and transverse facial arteries. 5) The first and second layers of the maxillomandibular muscle and the zygomaticomandibular muscle received the buccal and masseteric arteries.