Superficial temporal veins
Venae temporales superficiales
A scalp vein at the side of the head that runs down in front of the ear into the parotid gland.
At a glance
- English
- Superficial temporal veins
- Latin (TA2)
- Venae temporales superficiales
- System
- Vein
- Region
- Head
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the superficial temporal veins
The superficial temporal vein drains the side of the scalp. It starts in a venous network spread over the side and crown of the head. This network connects in front with the supratrochlear and supraorbital veins of the forehead, behind with the posterior auricular and occipital veins, and across the top of the head with the matching network of the other side.
Out of this network come frontal and parietal branches. They unite above the zygomatic arch into a single trunk, which then receives the middle temporal vein, a vessel that emerges from temporalis after draining the muscle. The trunk runs down in front of the ear, close behind the superficial temporal artery and with the auriculotemporal nerve nearby, crosses the root of the zygomatic arch and then sinks into the parotid gland.
On its way it receives several small tributaries: small parotid veins, articular branches draining the jaw joint, anterior auricular veins draining the front of the ear, and the transverse facial vein, which runs back across the cheek. Within the parotid it meets the maxillary vein, and the two together form the retromandibular vein.
Because it lies so close to the surface, the vein and its companion artery are easy to see and feel at the temple. The pair is used as the pedicle of scalp flaps and as a source of recipient vessels in microsurgery of the face. The vein is also met when a biopsy of the superficial temporal artery is taken to look for giant cell arteritis, and it must be kept apart from the artery.
Course and drainage
- Begins at
- Begins in a venous network covering the side and top of the scalp; its frontal and parietal branches unite above the zygomatic arch.
- Drains into
- Passes into the parotid gland, where it meets the maxillary vein to form the retromandibular vein.
- Drains
- Drains the side and top of the scalp, temporalis through the middle temporal vein, the front of the ear, the jaw joint and the side of the face.
Anthromica
See the superficial temporal veins 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.
