Anatomy and Pathophysiology

Abstract

The external carotid artery bifurcates in the area between the ear and the temporomandibular joint into the internal maxillary artery on one side, and into the superficial temporal artery on the other side. After giving off a branch (the transverse facial artery) the superficial temporal artery crosses the zygomatic arch and then becomes palpable. It then ascends along the temporal fascia and divides into a rather large parietal ramus and a rather thin anterior ramus, which nourish the anterior and middle areas of the galea (Fig. 1). Histologically, it is a muscular-type artery with an average trunk diameter of approximately 0,6 cm. As do other arteries of the same caliber, this vessel has an intima, an elastica interna, a media, and a relativelv large adventitia.