Posterior auricular vein
The posterior auricular vein is a vein of the head. It begins from a plexus with the occipital vein and the superficial temporal vein, descends behind the auricle, and drains into the external jugular vein.
| Posterior auricular vein | |
|---|---|
 Veins of the head and neck. (Posterior auricular visible behind ear.) | |
 Lateral head anatomy detail | |
| Details | |
| Drains from | Scalp |
| Drains to | External jugular vein |
| Artery | Posterior auricular artery |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | Vena auricularis posterior |
| TA98 | A12.3.05.046 |
| TA2 | 4958 |
| FMA | 50851 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Structure
The posterior auricular vein begins upon the side of the head, in a plexus which communicates with the tributaries of the occipital vein and the superficial temporal vein. It descends behind the auricle.[1] It joins the posterior division of the retromandibular vein.[1] It drains into the external jugular vein.[1][2]
It receive the stylomastoid vein, and some tributaries from the cranial surface of the auricle.[1]
Variation
The posterior auricular vein may drain into the internal jugular vein or a posterior jugular vein if there are variations in the external jugular vein.[1]
Clinical significance
Skin from the auriculomastoid region of the head may be grafted as a flap, keeping the posterior auricular vein with it.[1]
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 646 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- Kolhe, Pralhad S.; Leonard, Alan G. (1 November 1987). "The posterior auricular flap: anatomical studies". British Journal of Plastic Surgery. 40 (6): 562–569. doi:10.1016/0007-1226(87)90149-4. ISSN 0007-1226.
- Gladstone, Hayes B.; Morganroth, Greg S. (2007). "14 - Ear Reconstruction". Flaps and Grafts in Dermatologic Surgery. Saunders. pp. 179–190. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4160-0316-8.50019-3. ISBN 978-1-4160-0316-8.
