Occipital Branch of Posterior Auricular Artery (Right)
Ramus occipitalis arteriae auricularis posterioris
Read moreQuick Facts
Origin: Posterior auricular artery.
Course: Passes posteriorly to the scalp behind the ear.
Branches: None.
Supplied Structures: Epicranius and sternocleidomastoid muscle.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The occipital branch of the posterior auricular artery arises from the posterior auricular artery as it ascends in the groove between the mastoid process of the temporal bone and the cartilage of the ear.
Course
The occipital branch of the posterior auricular artery passes posteriorly over the sternocleidomastoid muscle to the scalp above and behind the ear.
Branches
There are no named branches, however, the occipital branch of the posterior auricular artery anastomosis with the occipital branches of the occipital artery (Gray & Lewis, 1918).
Supplied Structures
The occipital branch of the posterior auricular artery provides arterial supply to the occipitofrontalis and temporoparietalis muscles and the epicranial aponeurosis (collectively known as the epicranius muscle). Additionally, it may supply the upper portion of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (Netter, 2011).
References
Gray, H. & Lewis, W. H. (1918) Anatomy of the Human Body. Lea & Febiger.
Netter, F. H. (2011) Atlas of Human Anatomy. Saunders/Elsevier.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Artery
Arteries are vessels transporting blood between heart, tissues, and other organs in order to supply them with nutrition and oxygen.
