Description
The posterior auricular artery, which arises from the external carotid artery, is the major arterial contributor to the auricle of the external ear. Additionally, there are some contributions from the anterior auricular branches of the superficial temporal artery and auricular branches from the occipital artery. The external acoustic meatus is supplied by the posterior auricular artery, deep auricular artery (from the maxillary artery), and from the anterior auricular branches of the superficial temporal artery.
The tympanic cavity of the middle ear receives the majority of its arterial supply from the deep auricular, anterior tympanic, and stylomastoid arteries. There are also contributions from the petrosal branch of the middle meningeal artery, the superior, posterior, and inferior tympanic arteries, and the caroticotympanic artery.
The internal ear is mainly supplied by the labyrinthine artery, with contributions from the stylomastoid artery.
