Posterior auricular artery

Posterior auricular artery
The arteries of the face and scalp. (Posterior auricular visible slightly below ear.)
Superficial dissection of the right side of the neck, showing the carotid and subclavian arteries.
Details
SourceExternal carotid artery
VeinPosterior auricular vein
SuppliesScalp posterior to the auricle and to the auricle itself
Identifiers
Latinarteria auricularis posterior
TA98A12.2.05.037
TA24405
FMA49624
Anatomical terminology

The posterior auricular artery is a small artery that arises from the external carotid artery. It ascends along the side of the head. It supplies several muscles of the neck and several structures of the head.

Structure

Origin

The artery arises from (the posterior aspect of) the external carotid artery. Its origin occurs immediately superior to the digastric muscle and stylohyoid muscle,[1] and opposite the apex of the styloid process.[citation needed]

Course

The artery passes superior-ward in beneath the parotid gland and styloid process of temporal bone.[1] Next, it courses along a groove between the cartilage of the auricle and the mastoid process. It then divides into its terminal auricular and occipital branches.[1]

Branches and distribution

In the neck, the artery issues branches to the digastric muscle, stylohyoid muscle, sternocleidomastoid muscle, and the parotid gland.[1]

In the neck, the posterior auricular artery issues the stylomastoid artery which enters the stylomastoid foramen to provide arterial supply to the facial nerve (CN VII), tympanic cavity, mastoid air cells of the mastoid antrum, and the semicircular canals.[1]

It issues small branches to the auricle, and supplies blood to the scalp posterior to the auricle. A person may be able to "hear" their own heart rate via this artery, under certain conditions.[citation needed]

See also

Additional images

  • Lateral head anatomy detail
    Lateral head anatomy detail

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. pp. 586–587. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)