Posterior Auricular Artery, Gross Anatomy

Description

Arising from the external carotid artery, the posterior auricular artery ascends posterior to the auricle, curving superiorly in the groove between the cartilaginous ear and the mastoid process of the temporal bone. It courses deep to the posterior auricular muscle and adjacent fibers of the sternocleidomastoid near its mastoid insertion, with the posterior auricular nerve (from the facial nerve) running in the same neighborhood. Superficial temporal and occipital vascular territories sit anterosuperiorly and posteriorly, respectively, framing the posterior auricular vessel as it approaches the scalp. Surgeons care about this artery because it is a consistent landmark in postauricular approaches to the mastoid and middle ear, where bleeding can obscure the field in a narrow corridor. Its branches contribute to auricular and scalp perfusion, so it becomes relevant in otoplasty and reconstruction of helical rim defects, and it may be recruited as a pedicle in regional flaps; conversely, inadvertent ligation can compromise local soft tissue viability. Small-caliber branches also explain why postauricular incisions can ooze persistently when the vessel is not clearly identified. Use this illustration in head and neck anatomy teaching to anchor the relationship between the external carotid branches, the mastoid region, and the facial nerve’s posterior auricular branch, or in surgical atlases covering mastoidectomy, tympanoplasty, and postauricular flap planning. It also fits well in ENT and plastic surgery patient-education materials that need accurate surface-to-deep correlations around the ear. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.