cervical artery

n.

1. An artery with origin in the inferior thyroid artery, with distribution to muscles of the neck, and spinal cord, and with anastomoses to the branches of the vertebral, occipital, ascending pharyngeal, and deep cervical arteries; ascending cervical artery.
2. An artery with origin in the costocervical trunk, with distribution to the posterior deep muscles of the neck, and with anastomoses to the branches of the occipital, ascending cervical, and vertebral arteries; superior cervical ganglion.