882 HUMAN ANATOMY. 



Tributaries. — The tributaries of the external jugular are (i) the iemporo- 

 maxillary, (2) xh^ posterior auricular, (3) \\\^ posterior external jugular, (4) the 

 suprascapular, and (5) the anterior jugular vein. It may also receive the occipital 

 vein (page 859). 



I. The Temporo-Maxillary Vein. — The temporo-maxillary vein (v facialis 

 posterior) (Fig. 753 j is formed in the substance of the parotid gland by the union of the 

 temporal and internal maxillary veins. It passes directly downward, and at about the 

 angle of the jaw unites with the posterior auricular vein to form the external jugular. 



The temporal vein accompanies the temporal artery and is formed just above 

 the zygoma by the union of the superficial and middle temporal veins. The super- 

 ficial temporal vein (v. temporalis superficialis) (Fig. 759) is formed by the 

 union of an anterior and a posterior branch, which take their origin in a plexus 

 covering the greater portion of the skull-cap and communicate anteriorly with 

 branches of the frontal vein and posteriorly with the posterior auricular and occipital 

 veins. The middle temporal (v. temporalis media) arises from a plexus which 

 lies upon the outer surface of the temporal muscle, beneath the temporal fascia and 

 above the zygoma. Branches of the plexus pierce the temporal fascia near the 

 external angle of the eye and communicate with branches of the facial and lachrymal 

 nerves, while other branches pass deeply into the substance of the temporal muscle 

 and anastomose with the deep temporal veins. The middle temporal, from its origin 

 in the plexus, passes backward parallel with the upper border of the zygoma, 

 perforates the temporal fascia, and joins with the suj>erficial temporal vein. 



Tributaries. — The temporal vein receives the following tributaries. («■) The anterior 

 auricular veins (vv. auriculares anteriores) are four or five small vessels which come from the 

 anterior surface of the pinna, {b) The posterior parotid veins (vv. parotideae posteriores), small 

 branches which drain the parotid gland, communicating with the anterior parotid branches of 

 the facial, [c) The articular veins (vv. articulares mandibulae), several in number, arise in a rich 

 plexus which surrounds the synovial membrane of the temporo-mandibular articulation. 

 This plexus receives tympanic branches (vv tympanicae), which accompany the tympanic 

 artery through the Glaserian fissure, and communicates anteriorly with the pterygoid plexus. 

 {d) The transverse facial vein (v. transversa faciei) which accompanies the artery of the 

 same name. 



The internal maxillary vein (v. maxillaris interna) (Fig. 760) appears 

 sometimes as a distinct vessel accompanying the internal maxillary artery and 

 receiving as tributaries veins corresponding to the arterial branches. In other cases 

 it is represented by a plexus of veins, frequently exceedingly dense, occupying the 

 pterygoid fossa and communicating anteriorly with the facial vein and posteriorly 

 with the temporo-maxillary. This pterygoid plexus (plexus ptervgoideus) (Fig. 

 760) is embedded in the adipose tissue which occupies the pterygoid fossa and 

 consists of two portions, one situated upon the outer surface of the external 

 pterygoid muscle and the other between the two pterygoids, this latter plexus 

 being somewhat more extensive than the other, with which it is united by branches 

 passing through, above, and beneath the external pterygoid muscle. It is also 

 continued forward as a fine plexus surrounding the infra-orbital nerve, and that 

 portion which rests upon the tuberosity of the maxilla is occasionally more or less 

 distinct from the remainder, and has been termed the piex7is alveolaris. 



The pterygoid plexus communicates with the facial vein through the deep 

 facial or anterior internal maxillary vein, with the pharyngeal plexus, and with the 

 articular plexus of the temporo-mandibular articulation. It further receives the 

 emissary veins from the cavernous plexus which traverse the foramen ovale, the fora- 

 men of Vesalius, and the foramen lacerum medium, and also a branch from the 

 inferior ophthalmic vein which passes through the spheno-maxillary fissure. 



Tributaries. — The tributaries of the internal maxillary vein or the pterygoid plexus may be 

 described as follows. 



[a] The spheno-palatine vein has its origin in the rich venous plexus which underlies the 

 mucous membrane of the nasal cavity and with which the ethmoidal veins also communicate. 

 It traverses the spheno-palatine foramen with the artery of the same name, and is joined by the 

 Vidian, pterygo-palatitie, and superior palatine veins, all small vessels who.se origin is indicated 



