Branches of the external carotid artery (mnemonic)

Mnemonics for the branches of the external carotid artery abound. A few colorful examples include:

• Some American Ladies Found Our Pyramids Most Satisfactory
• Some Anatomists Like Freaking Out Poor Medical Students
• She Always Likes Friends Over Papa, Mama, and Sister

There are many many many other mnemonics, many of which are not suitable for inclusion on Radiopaedia.org on account of foul language, inappropriate imagery or reprehensible stereotypes.

Note: as the superficial temporal artery and maxillary artery are terminal branches of the external carotid artery, their order may be reversed.

Mnemonics

• S: superior thyroid artery
• A: ascending pharyngeal artery
• L: lingual artery
• F: facial artery
• O: occipital artery
• P: posterior auricular artery
• M: maxillary artery
• S: superficial temporal artery

Above sequence may be altered and also be remembered as "FLOP MASS".