The ascending palatine artery is an artery is a branch of the facial artery which ascends along the neck before splitting into two terminal branches; one branch supplies the soft palate, and the other supplies the palatine tonsil and pharyngotympanic tube.

[1] It ascends along the side of the pharynx between the superior pharyngeal constrictor and the medial pterygoid muscle[1] to near the base of the skull.

[citation needed] Near the levator veli palatini muscle, the artery splits into its two terminal branches.

[1] One terminal branch passes along the levator veli palatini muscle, winding around the superior border of the superior pharyngeal constrictor to provide arterial supply to the soft palate and anastomose with the greater palatine artery and its contralateral partner.

[1] The other terminal branch pierces the superior pharyngeal constrictor to provide arterial supply to the palatine tonsil and pharyngotympanic tube.