Occipital artery arises from the posterior aspect of the external carotid artery, superior to the origin of the facial artery. It passes posteriorly, immediately medial and parallel to the attachment of the posterior belly of the digastric muscle in the occipital groove in the temporal bone, and ends by dividing into numerous branches in the posterior part of the scalp. During its course, it passes superficial to the internal carotid artery and CN IX-CN XI.