Final answer:
The external carotid artery supplies blood to the skin and muscles of the head, face, lower jaw, neck, esophagus, and larynx after arising from the common carotid artery, which itself originates differently on each side of the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
The external carotid artery is one of the two main divisions of the common carotid artery. Its primary function is to supply blood to numerous structures within the face, including the skin and muscles of the head, lower jaw, neck, esophagus, and larynx. It arises directly from where the common carotid artery splits into the internal and external carotid arteries.
The common carotid artery itself arises differently on each side of the body: the right common carotid artery comes from the brachiocephalic artery, and the left common carotid artery arises directly from the aortic arch. The external carotid artery gives off several branches, such as the lingual, facial, occipital, maxillary, and superficial temporal arteries, dedicated to supplying specific regions within the head and neck area.