Posterior auricular vein
Vein of the head
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The posterior auricular vein is a vein of the head. It begins from a plexus with the occipital vein and the superficial temporal vein, descends behind the auricle, and drains into the external jugular vein.
| Posterior auricular vein | |
|---|---|
Veins of the head and neck. (Posterior auricular visible behind ear.) | |
 Lateral head anatomy detail | |
| Details | |
| Drains from | Scalp |
| Drains to | External jugular vein |
| Artery | Posterior auricular artery |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | vena auricularis posterior |
| TA98 | A12.3.05.046 |
| TA2 | 4958 |
| FMA | 50851 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Structure
The posterior auricular vein begins upon the side of the head, in a plexus which communicates with the tributaries of the occipital vein and the superficial temporal vein. It descends behind the auricle.[1] It joins the posterior division of the retromandibular vein.[1] It drains into the external jugular vein.[1][2]
It receive the stylomastoid vein, and some tributaries from the cranial surface of the auricle.[1]
Variation
The posterior auricular vein may drain into the internal jugular vein or a posterior jugular vein if there are variations in the external jugular vein.[1]
Clinical significance
Skin from the auriculomastoid region of the head may be grafted as a flap, keeping the posterior auricular vein with it.[1]
