Posterior auricular artery

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.
Latin	arteria auricularis posterior
Gray's	subject #144 557
Supplies	scalp posterior to the auricle and to the auricle itself
Source	external carotid artery
Vein	posterior auricular vein

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.

See also

• Anterior auricular branches of superficial temporal artery
• Posterior auricular nerve

Additional images

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  Lateral head anatomy detail

External links

• Posterior+auricular+artery at eMedicine Dictionary