Arteries of the human head. Computer graphic out- line of the head and neck of a male figure in profile, showing arteries to the face and brain. The human head has a rich supply of blood vessels; arteries provide it with oxygenated blood. The carotid artery arises anteriorly from the aortic arch (bottom centre), and runs up the neck as the major artery supplying the head. Behind the carotid artery is the smaller vertebral artery to the brain. The carotid divides in two near the jaw-line, with the external branch (at right) supplying the thyroid gland, tongue, face and scalp. An internal carotid branch supplies blood directly to the brain.