Superficial temporal vein
Encyclopedia

Path

It begins on the side and vertex
Vertex (anatomy)
In arthropod and vertebrate anatomy, the vertex refers to the upper surface of the head.In humans, the vertex is formed by four bones of the skull: the frontal bone, the two parietal bones, and the occipital bone...

 of the skull in a plexus
Plexus
A plexus is a part of nervous system. Plexus has a slightly different definition in vertebrates and in invertebrates.- In vertebrates :In vertebrates, a plexus is an area where nerves branch and rejoin. The electrical signals do not mix; rather, the fibres travel together with their electrical...

 which communicates with the frontal vein
Frontal vein
The frontal vein begins on the forehead in a venous plexus which communicates with the frontal branches of the superficial temporal vein....

 and supraorbital vein
Supraorbital vein
The supraorbital vein begins on the forehead where it communicates with the frontal branch of the superficial temporal vein.It runs downward superficial to the Frontalis muscle, and joins the frontal vein at the medial angle of the orbit to form the angular vein.Previous to its junction with the...

, with the corresponding vein of the opposite side, and with the posterior auricular vein
Posterior auricular vein
The posterior auricular vein begins upon the side of the head, in a plexus which communicates with the tributaries of the occipital vein and superficial temporal veins....

 and occipital vein
Occipital vein
The occipital vein begins as a plexus at the posterior aspect of the scalp from the external occipital protuberance and superior nuchal line to the back part of the vertex of the skull....

.

From this network frontal and parietal branches arise, and unite above the zygomatic arch
Zygomatic arch
The zygomatic arch or cheek bone is formed by the zygomatic process of temporal bone and the temporal process of the zygomatic bone , the two being united by an oblique suture; the tendon of the Temporalis passes medial to the arch to gain insertion into the coronoid process...

 to form the trunk of the vein, which is joined by the middle temporal vein emerging from the temporalis muscle
Temporalis muscle
The temporal muscle is one of the muscles of mastication.-Structure:It arises from the temporal fossa and the deep part of temporal fascia...

.

It then crosses the posterior root of the zygomatic arch
Zygomatic arch
The zygomatic arch or cheek bone is formed by the zygomatic process of temporal bone and the temporal process of the zygomatic bone , the two being united by an oblique suture; the tendon of the Temporalis passes medial to the arch to gain insertion into the coronoid process...

, enters the substance of the parotid gland
Parotid gland
The paired parotid glands are the largest of the salivary glands. They are each found wrapped around the mandibular ramus, and secrete saliva through Stensen's ducts into the oral cavity, to facilitate mastication and swallowing and to begin the digestion of starches.-Location:The parotid glands...

, and unites with the internal maxillary vein
Internal maxillary vein
The maxillary veins consist of a short trunk which accompanies the first part of the internal maxillary artery....

 to form the posterior facial vein
Posterior facial vein
The retromandibular vein , formed by the union of the superficial temporal and maxillary veins, descends in the substance of the parotid gland, superficial to the external carotid artery but beneath the facial nerve, between the ramus of the mandible and the sternocleidomastoideus muscle.It divides...

.

Tributaries

The superficial temporal vein receives in its course the following:
  • some parotid veins
  • articular veins from the temporomandibular joint
    Temporomandibular joint
    The temporomandibular joint is the joint of the jaw and is frequently referred to as TMJ. There are two TMJs, one on either side, working in unison. The name is derived from the two bones which form the joint: the upper temporal bone which is part of the cranium , and the lower jaw bone called the...

  • anterior auricular veins from the auricula
    Ear
    The ear is the organ that detects sound. It not only receives sound, but also aids in balance and body position. The ear is part of the auditory system....

  • the transverse facial vein from the side of the face

External links

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