Superficial Temporal Artery 31 



mose with the occipital and the superficial temporal. Its stylo-mastoid 

 branch enters the Fallopian aqueduct as the portio dura is leaving it, 

 and anastomoses with the petrosal branch of the middle meningeal. 

 It supplies the tympanum, the mastoid cells, and the three semi- 

 circular canals. In childhood a twig of this artery enters into an 

 anastomotic circle with the tympanic branch of the internal maxillary 

 upon the membrana. 



The ascending pharyngreal is a slender and irregular branch 

 which mounts from the beginning of the external carotid, between the 

 internal carotid and the pharynx, to the base of the skull. It gives 

 pharyngeal, tonsillar, and palatine branches, and some meningeal twigs 

 which enter the skull through the middle, the posterior lacerated, or 

 the anterior condylar foramen. 



The superficial temporal comes from the bifurcation of the 

 artery in the parotid gland ; it ascends over the zygoma, and soon 

 divides, upon the temporal fascia, into an anterior and a posterior trunk. 



The anterior division anastomoses with the supra-orbital and 

 frontal branches of the ophthalmic, the posterior joining with its 

 fellow across the vertex, and with the posterior auricular and occi- 

 pital arteries. 



Branches of the superficial temporal : The transverse facial 

 emerges from the parotid gland and runs forwards over the masseter 

 between the zygoma and the duct of the gland, and anastomoses with 

 the infra-orbital branch of the internal maxillary, and with the facial. 



The middle temporal dips through the temporal fascia to supply the 

 muscle and to anastomose with deep temporal branches. It also 

 sends forwards an orbital twig between the layers of the temporal fascia 

 which may anastomose with the lachrymal and palpebral branches of 

 the ophthalmic. Auricular branches anastomose with others upon the 

 pinna. 



Arteriotomy. ' Bleeding ' is sometimes done from the anterior 

 division of the artery, instead of from a vein, in the case of severe 

 ophthalmia or meningitis. For arteriotomy the main trunk of the 

 superficial temporal should not be selected, as it lies close to a large 

 tributary of the external jugular vein and by divisions of the facial 

 and auriculo-temporal nerves. 



The anaesthetist conveniently feels the temporal pulse instead of 

 the radial during an operation. When there is an obstruction to 

 the flow of blood through the capillaries the anterior temporal artery 

 becomes elongated and extremely tortuous, and its pulsations are 

 apt to attract attention. 



Haemorrhage from the branches of the superficial temporal, and ot 

 other vessels in the scalp, is often extremely troublesome to arrest, as 

 the vessels are incorporated with the surrounding fibrous tissue, and, 

 therefore, unable to retract and contract. A deep suture is the most 

 certain method of stopping the bleeding. 



