The stylomastoid artery enters the stylomastoid foramen

Stylomastoid foramen

Between the styloid and mastoid processes of the temporal bone is the stylomastoid foramenIt is the termination of the facial canal, and transmits the facial nerve and stylomastoid artery.- Clinical Relevance :...

 and supplies the tympanic cavity

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....

, the tympanic antrum and mastoid cells

Mastoid cells

A section of the mastoid process of the temporal bone of the cranium shows it to be hollowed out into a number of spaces, the mastoid cells, which exhibit the greatest possible variety as to their size and number....

, and the semicircular canals. It is a branch of the posterior auricular artery

Posterior auricular artery

The posterior auricular artery is a small artery and arises from the external carotid artery, above the Digastric muscle and Stylohyoid muscle, opposite the apex of the styloid process....

, and thus part of the external carotid arterial system.

In the young subject a branch from this vessel forms, with the anterior tympanic artery from the internal maxillary, a vascular circle, which surrounds the tympanic membrane, and from which delicate vessels ramify on that membrane.

It anastomoses with the superficial petrosal branch of the middle meningeal artery

Middle meningeal artery

The middle meningeal artery is typically the third branch of the first part of the maxillary artery, one of the two terminal branches of the external carotid artery...

 by a twig which enters the hiatus canalis facialis.

External links

• ArcLab