The posterior auricular artery is a small artery that arises from the external carotid artery. It ascends along the side of the head. It supplies several muscles of the neck and several structures of the head.

Structure

Origin

The artery arises from (the posterior aspect of) the external carotid artery. Its origin occurs immediately superior to the digastric muscle and stylohyoid muscle, and opposite the apex of the styloid process.

Course

The artery passes superior-ward in beneath the parotid gland and styloid process of temporal bone. Next, it courses along a groove between the cartilage of the auricle and the mastoid process. It then divides into its terminal auricular and occipital branches.

Branches and distribution

In the neck, the artery issues branches to the digastric muscle, stylohyoid muscle, sternocleidomastoid muscle, and the parotid gland. In the neck, the posterior auricular artery issues the stylomastoid artery which enters the stylomastoid foramen to provide arterial supply to the facial nerve (CN VII), tympanic cavity, mastoid air cells of the mastoid antrum, and the semicircular canals. It issues 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.

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