Anterior deep temporal artery
Arteria temporalis profunda anterior
A branch of the maxillary artery that climbs between the skull and the front part of temporalis, supplying that muscle from its deep surface.
At a glance
- English
- Anterior deep temporal artery
- Latin (TA2)
- Arteria temporalis profunda anterior
- System
- Artery
- Region
- Head
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the anterior deep temporal artery
The anterior deep temporal artery is one of two deep temporal arteries, anterior and posterior, that arise from the second, or pterygoid, part of the maxillary artery in the infratemporal fossa. The anterior one supplies the front of the temporalis muscle; the posterior one supplies its back part.
From its origin the artery runs upwards between the lateral pterygoid muscle and the temporalis, passes deep to the zygomatic arch and enters the temporal fossa. There it ascends between the bone of the side of the skull and the deep surface of temporalis, branching into the muscle from below. Its companion is the anterior deep temporal nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve that supplies the same part of the muscle.
In the temporal fossa its branches link with those of the posterior deep temporal artery and with the middle temporal artery, a branch of the superficial temporal artery that pierces temporalis from the outside. Small branches pass through the zygomatic bone and the greater wing of the sphenoid to connect with the lacrimal artery in the orbit, one of the minor routes between the external and internal carotid territories.
Temporalis, with its deep temporal arteries, can be turned down as a muscle flap to fill defects in the orbit, the mouth or the skull base, and the deep temporal vessels are its main supply. The anterior artery also lies close to the bone in the temporal fossa, so it may bleed when the skull is opened through the temple or in fractures of this region.
Course and supply
- Arises from
- The second, pterygoid part of the maxillary artery in the infratemporal fossa.
- Ends in
- Ends in branches within the anterior part of temporalis, linking with the posterior deep temporal and middle temporal arteries.
- Supplies
- Supplies the anterior part of temporalis and the bone and periosteum of the anterior temporal fossa.
Anthromica
See the anterior deep temporal artery where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
