Posterior auricular artery
Encyclopedia
The posterior auricular artery is a small artery and arises from the external carotid artery
, above the Digastric muscle
and Stylohyoid muscle
, opposite the apex of the styloid process
.
It ascends posteriorly beneath the parotid gland
, along the styloid process
of the temporal bone
, between the cartilage of the ear and the mastoid process
of the temporal bone along the lateral side of the head. The posterior auricular artery supplies blood to the scalp posterior to the auricle and to the auricle itself.
External carotid artery
In human anatomy, the external carotid artery is a major artery of the head and neck. It arises from the common carotid artery when it bifurcates into the external and internal carotid artery.-Course:...
, above the Digastric muscle
Digastric muscle
The digastric muscle is a small muscle located under the jaw. so digastric muscles are muscle fibers in ligament of treitz ,omohyoid , occipitofrontalis....
and Stylohyoid muscle
Stylohyoid muscle
The stylohyoid muscle is a slender muscle, lying anterior, and superior of the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. It shares this muscle's innervation by the facial nerve, and functions to draw the hyoid bone backwards and elevate the tongue....
, opposite the apex of the styloid process
Styloid process
In anatomy, a styloid process , usually serving as points of attachment for muscles, refers to the slender, pointed process of :* temporal bone of the skull - Temporal styloid process...
.
It ascends posteriorly beneath the parotid gland
Parotid gland
The paired parotid glands are the largest of the salivary glands. They are each found wrapped around the mandibular ramus, and secrete saliva through Stensen's ducts into the oral cavity, to facilitate mastication and swallowing and to begin the digestion of starches.-Location:The parotid glands...
, along the styloid process
Styloid process
In anatomy, a styloid process , usually serving as points of attachment for muscles, refers to the slender, pointed process of :* temporal bone of the skull - Temporal styloid process...
of the temporal bone
Temporal bone
The temporal bones are situated at the sides and base of the skull, and lateral to the temporal lobes of the cerebrum.The temporal bone supports that part of the face known as the temple.-Parts:The temporal bone consists of four parts:* Squama temporalis...
, between the cartilage of the ear and the mastoid process
Mastoid process
The mastoid process is a conical prominence projecting from the undersurface of the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. It is located just behind the external acoustic meatus, and lateral to the styloid process...
of the temporal bone along the lateral side of the head. The posterior auricular artery supplies blood to the scalp posterior to the auricle and to the auricle itself.
See also
- Anterior auricular branches of superficial temporal arteryAnterior auricular branches of superficial temporal arteryThe anterior auricular branches of the superficial temporal artery are distributed to the anterior portion of the auricula, the lobule, and part of the external meatus, anastomosing with the posterior auricular....
- Posterior auricular nervePosterior auricular nerveThe posterior auricular nerve arises from the facial nerve close to the stylomastoid foramen and runs upward in front of the mastoid process; here it is joined by a filament from the auricular branch of the vagus and communicates with the posterior branch of the great auricular as well as with the...