Anterior tympanic artery
Encyclopedia
The anterior tympanic artery (tympanic artery) usually arises as a branch of the mandibular (first) part of the maxillary artery. It passes upward behind the temporomandibular articulation, enters the tympanic cavity
through the petrotympanic fissure
, and ramifies upon the tympanic membrane, forming a vascular circle around the membrane with the stylomastoid branch of the posterior auricular
, and anastomosing with the artery of the pterygoid canal
and with the caroticotympanic branch from the internal carotid.
Tympanic cavity
The tympanic cavity is a small cavity surrounding the bones of the middle ear.It is formed from the tubotympanic recess, an expansion of the first pharyngeal pouch....
through the petrotympanic fissure
Petrotympanic fissure
The petrotympanic fissure is a fissure in the temporal bone that runs from the temporomandibular joint to the tympanic cavity....
, and ramifies upon the tympanic membrane, forming a vascular circle around the membrane with the stylomastoid branch of the posterior auricular
Posterior auricular
Posterior auricular can refer to:* Posterior auricular artery* Posterior auricular muscle* Posterior auricular vein...
, and anastomosing with the artery of the pterygoid canal
Artery of the pterygoid canal
The artery of the pterygoid canal is an artery that can arise from the internal carotid or external carotid , or serve as an anastomosis between these arteries.It more commonly arises from the ECA....
and with the caroticotympanic branch from the internal carotid.