retromandibular vein

Introduction

A vein formed by the junction of the superficial temporal vein & the maxillary vein in front of the ear. It passes posterior to the ramus of the mandible through the parotid gland. It generally sends a large communicating branch to join the facial vein below the inferior border of the mandible before merging with the posterior auricular vein to form the external jugular vein.

More general terms

• vein

Additional terms

• external jugular vein