Superficial temporal artery

Artery: Superficial temporal artery
Outline of side of face, showing chief surface markings. (Superficial temporal a. visible at center, to left of ear.)
Superficial dissection of the right side of the neck, showing the carotid and subclavian arteries.
Latin	arteria temporalis superficialis
Gray's	subject #144 559
Supplies	temple, scalp
Source	External carotid artery
Branches	Transverse facial artery Middle temporal artery Anterior auricular branch frontal branch parietal branch
Drain	superficial temporal vein

In human anatomy, the superficial temporal artery is a major artery of the head. It arises from the external carotid artery when it bifurcates into the superficial temporal artery and maxillary artery.

Its pulse is palpable superior to the zygomatic arch, anterior and superior to the tragus.

Course

The superficial temporal artery, the smaller of the two terminal branches of the external carotid, appears, from its direction, to be the continuation of that vessel.

It begins in the substance of the parotid gland, behind the neck of the mandible, and passes superficially over the posterior root of the zygomatic process of the temporal bone; about 5 cm. above this process it divides into two branches, a frontal and a parietal.

Relations

As it crosses the zygomatic process, it is covered by the Auricularis anterior muscle, and by a dense fascia; it is crossed by the temporal and zygomatic branches of the facial nerve and one or two veins, and is accompanied by the auriculotemporal nerve, which lies immediately behind it.

The superficial temporal artery anastomoses with (among others) the supraorbital artery of the internal carotid artery.

Clinical relevance

The superficial temporal artery is often affected in temporal arteritis and biopsied if the diagnosis is suspected.

Migraine attacks occur when the temporal artery enlarges.

Additional images

The arteries of the face and scalp.	Plan of branches of internal maxillary artery.	Plan of branches of internal maxillary artery.	Bloodvessels of the eyelids, front view.
Lateral head anatomy detail	Head anatomy anterior view

References

• This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.

External links

• Superficial+temporal+artery at eMedicine Dictionary
• Anatomy at MUN head/cbv
• lesson4 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (parotid4, infratempfossaart)
• Angiogram of the superficial temporal artery
• Diagram at stchas.edu
• http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_47/47-2.HTM

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