posterior auricular artery

Origin

external carotid artery

Course

Passes rostrally between the parotid gland & styloid process & between the cartilage of the auricle & mastoid process.

Branches

• muscular branches
  • digastric
  • stylohyoid
  • sternocleidomastoid
• parotid branches
• stylomastoid artery
• occipital branch
• auricular branch

Anastomoses

• anterior tympanic artery (via stylomastoid artery)
• occipital artery

More general terms

• artery