Posterior auricular artery

The posterior auricular artery is a small artery that arises from the external carotid artery, above the digastric muscle and stylohyoid muscle, opposite the apex of the styloid process.

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
TAA12.2.05.037
FMA49624
Anatomical terminology

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 gives off the stylomastoid artery, 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.

See also

Additional images

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.