Posterior division of retromandibular vein
Divisio posterior venae retromandibularis
The backward branch of the retromandibular vein, which joins the posterior auricular vein below the ear to start the external jugular vein.
At a glance
- English
- Posterior division of retromandibular vein
- Latin (TA2)
- Divisio posterior venae retromandibularis
- System
- Vein
- Region
- Head
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the posterior division of retromandibular vein
The retromandibular vein, also known as the posterior facial or temporomaxillary vein, is formed inside the parotid gland where the superficial temporal vein and the maxillary vein unite. It runs down through the gland behind the ramus of the mandible, deep to the branches of the facial nerve, with the external carotid artery on its deep side, and near the angle of the jaw it divides. This page shows the posterior of its two divisions.
The posterior division continues downwards and backwards out of the lower part of the parotid gland, over the surface of sternocleidomastoid. Just below and behind the angle of the mandible the posterior auricular vein, descending from behind the ear, runs into it. From that union onwards the vessel is called the external jugular vein, which crosses the neck to end in the subclavian vein.
The posterior division therefore carries the share of retromandibular blood that goes to the external rather than the internal jugular system. It takes blood from the temple and the scalp above and in front of the ear, from the auricle, and from deep facial structures drained by the maxillary vein. The anterior division, by contrast, goes forwards to the facial vein and the internal jugular vein. The size of each division varies, and one may be much larger than the other.
In parotid surgery the posterior division is an important landmark, since it lies close to the lower branches of the facial nerve as they emerge from the gland. Its continuation as the external jugular vein is the surface vein seen crossing sternocleidomastoid, and it is occasionally used to reach the venous system when other veins cannot be found.
Course and drainage
- Begins at
- Arises from the retromandibular vein in the lower part of the parotid gland, near the angle of the mandible.
- Drains into
- Joins the posterior auricular vein to form the external jugular vein.
- Drains
- Carries blood from the temple, the scalp in front of the ear, the auricle and the deep face towards the external jugular vein.
Anthromica
See the posterior division of retromandibular vein 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.
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