Posterior facial vein
Encyclopedia
The retromandibular vein (temporomaxillary vein, posterior facial vein), formed by the union of the superficial temporal
and maxillary veins, descends in the substance of the parotid gland
, superficial to the external carotid artery
but beneath the facial nerve
, between the ramus of the mandible and the sternocleidomastoideus muscle.
It divides into two branches:
: The Pterygoid plexus
of Veins"
Superficial temporal vein
-Path:It begins on the side and vertex of the skull in a plexus which communicates with the frontal vein and supraorbital vein, with the corresponding vein of the opposite side, and with the posterior auricular vein and occipital vein....
and maxillary veins, descends in the substance of 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...
, superficial to the external carotid artery
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:...
but beneath the facial nerve
Facial nerve
The facial nerve is the seventh of twelve paired cranial nerves. It emerges from the brainstem between the pons and the medulla, and controls the muscles of facial expression, and functions in the conveyance of taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and oral cavity...
, between the ramus of the mandible and the sternocleidomastoideus muscle.
It divides into two branches:
- an anterior, which passes forward and unites with the anterior facial veinAnterior facial veinThe anterior facial vein commences at the side of the root of the nose and is a direct continuation of the angular vein where it also receives a small nasal branch. It lies behind the facial artery and follows a less tortuous course...
to form the common facial veinCommon facial veinThe anterior facial vein usually unites with the posterior facial vein to form the common facial vein, which crosses the external carotid artery and enters the internal jugular vein at a variable point below the hyoid bone....
. - a posterior, which is joined by the posterior auricular veinPosterior auricular veinThe posterior auricular vein begins upon the side of the head, in a plexus which communicates with the tributaries of the occipital vein and superficial temporal veins....
and becomes the external jugular veinExternal jugular veinThe external jugular vein receives the greater part of the blood from the exterior of the cranium and the deep parts of the face, being formed by the junction of the posterior division of the retromandibular vein with the posterior auricular vein.-Path:...
.
External links
- "Infratemporal fossaInfratemporal fossa
The infratemporal fossa is an irregularly shaped cavity, situated below and medial to the zygomatic arch.* anteriorly, by the infratemporal surface of the maxilla and the ridge which descends from its zygomatic process...
: The Pterygoid plexus
Pterygoid plexus
The pterygoid plexus is a venous plexus of considerable size, and is situated between the temporalis muscle and lateral pterygoid muscle, and partly between the two pterygoid muscles.-Tributaries received:...
of Veins"