Superficial temporal vein

Superficial temporal vein
Veins of the head and neck. ("Sup. Temp." labeled at center, anterior to the ear.)
Bloodvessels of the eyelids, front view. (13, at left, is branch of the superficial temporal vein.)
Details
Drains from	temple, scalp
Drains to	retromandibular vein
Artery	superficial temporal artery
Identifiers
Latin	venae temporales superficiales
TA98	A12.3.05.032
TA2	4832
FMA	70849
Anatomical terminology

The superficial temporal vein is a vein of the side of the head. It begins on the side and vertex of the skull in a network of veins 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. It ultimately crosses the posterior root of the zygomatic arch, enters the parotid gland, and unites with the internal maxillary vein to form the posterior facial vein.

Structure

It begins on the side and vertex of the skull in a network (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.

From this network frontal and parietal branches arise, and join above the zygomatic arch to form the trunk of the vein, which is joined by the middle temporal vein emerging from the temporalis muscle.

It then crosses the posterior root of the zygomatic arch, enters the substance of the parotid gland, and unites with the internal maxillary vein to form the posterior facial vein.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 645 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

• lesson4 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (parotid2)
• Diagram at Tufts.edu
• Diagram at stchas.edu