Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The branching pattern of the middle temporal artery and the relation with the temporal fascia

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Although the middle temporal artery is used for maxillofacial and otological flap surgeries, the anatomical knowledge of the artery is insufficient to corroborate its usage. This study has investigated the interrelationship between the artery and the temporal fascia to enhance its availability.

Methods

The middle temporal artery was dissected in ten cadavers, and its spatial relations with the temporal fascia and muscle and the adjacent structures were examined.

Results

The middle temporal artery arose behind the mandibular head or neck and in front of the external acoustic meatus. It penetrated the temporal fascia external to the junction between the zygomatic process and the supramastoid crest. The artery gave off a thin branch in the space between the superficial and the deep layers of the fascia and is divided into two branches piercing the deep layer to supply the temporalis. The anterior branch anastomosed with the deep temporal artery; furthermore, it gave off the slender ramus coursing on the base of the zygomatic process to communicate with the masseteric artery. The posterior branch passed along the supramastoid crest, gave off a slender ramus and ascended in the groove of the temporal bone.

Conclusion

The branching pattern of the middle temporal artery and its positions relative to the temporal fascia and the landmark structures are helpful in identifying the artery, designing favourable flaps and avoiding unfavourable bleeding during surgery. They are also beneficial in developing the clinical usage of the artery.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bradley M, Patten AM (1953) The cardiovascular system. In: Schaeffer JP (ed) Morris’ human anatomy, 11th edn. The Blakiston Company, New York, pp 611–828

    Google Scholar 

  2. Standring S (2005) Head and Neck. In: Standring S, Ellis H, Healy JC, Johnson D, Williams A (eds) Gray’s anatomy, 39th edn. Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, London, pp 439–723

    Google Scholar 

  3. Thane GD (1894) Myology; angeiology. In: Schäfer EA, Thane GD (eds) Quain’s elements of anatomy, vol 2. Longman Green and Co, London, pp 199–350

    Google Scholar 

  4. Walles EW (1972) The blood vascular and lymphatic systems. In: Romanes GJ (ed) Cunningham’s textbook of anatomy, 11th edn. Oxford University Press, London, pp 837–967

    Google Scholar 

  5. Al-Kayat A, Bramley P (1979) A modified pre-auricular approach to the temporomandibular joint and malar arch. Br J Oral Surg 17:91–103

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Mani V, Panda AK (2003) Versatility of temporalis myofascial flap in maxillofacial reconstruction—analysis of 30 cases. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 32:368–372

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Black B, Kelly S (1994) Mastoidectomy reconstruction: revascularizing the canal wall repair. Am J Otol 15:91–95

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Black B (1998) The use of vascular flaps in middle ear surgery. Am J Otol 19:420–427

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Gluth MB, Sunde J (2013) Vascularized reconstruction of partial external auditory canal wall defects using the middle temporal artery flap. Otol Neurotol 35:e31–e35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. O’ SullivanAtlas PGMD (2004) Use of soft tissue vascular flaps for mastoid cavity obliteration. Laryngoscope 114:957–959

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Singh V, Atlas M (2007) Obliteration of the persistently discharging mastoid cavity using the middle temporal artery flap. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 137:433–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Talmage GD, Sunde J, Walker DD, Atlas MD, Gluth MB (2016) Anatomic basis of the middle temporal artery periosteal rotational flap in otologic surgery. Laryngoscope 126:1426–1432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Rubio RR, Lawton MT, Kola O, Tabani H, Yousef S, Meybodi AT, Burkhardt JK, El-Sayed I, Benet A (2018) The middle temporal artery: surgical anatomy and exposure for cerebral revascularization. World Neurosurg 110:e79–e83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Daraei P, Mattox DE (2018) Landmarks for the preservation of the middle temporal artery during mastoid surgery: cadaveric dissection study. Am J Otolaryngol 39:6–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Abul-Hassan HS, von Drasek AG, Acland RD (1986) Surgical anatomy and blood supplyof the facial layers of the temporal region. Plast Reconstr Surg 77:17–28

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Beheiry EE, Abdel-Hamid FAM (2007) An anatomical study of the temporal fascia and related temporal pads of fat. Plast Reconstr Surg 119:136–144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Nakajima H, Imanishi N, Minabe T (1995) The arterial anatomy of the temporal region and the vascular basis of various temporal flaps. Br J Plast Surg 48:439–450

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Cheung LK (1996) The blood supply of the human temporalis muscle: a vascular corrosion cast study. J Anat 189:431–438

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Cheung LK (1996) The vascular anatomy of the human temporalis muscle: implications for surgical splitting techniques. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 25:414–421

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Rusu MC, Jianu AM, Rădoi PM (2021) Anatomic variations of the superficial temporal artery. Surg Radiol Anat 43:445–450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Koziej M, Wnuk J, Polak J, Trybus M, Pękala P, Pękala J, Hołda M, Antoszewski B, Tomaszewski K (2020) The superficial temporal artery: a meta-analysis of its prevalence and morphology. Clin Anat 33:1130–1137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Qiu Y, Yang C, Chen M, Qiu W (2016) Can a novel surgical approach to the temporomandibular joint improve access and reduce complications? J Oral Maxillofac Surg 74:1336–1342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Kapoor KM, Bertossi D, Li CQ, Saputra DI, Heydenrych I, Yavuzer R (2020) A systematic literature review of the middle temporal vein anatomy: ‘venous danger zone’ in temporal fossa for filler injections. Aesthetic Plast Surg 44:1803–1810

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank those who donated their bodies to science so that anatomical research could be performed. Results from such research can potentially increase mankind’s overall knowledge that can then improve patient care. Therefore, these donors and their families deserve our highest gratitude.

Funding

No funds, grants, or other support was received.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Basic Sciences of Oral Health Care, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8549, Japan

    Yujiro Sakamoto

Authors
  1. Yujiro Sakamoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

The author contributed to the study conception and design, this is completely the author’s own work, and the author approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yujiro Sakamoto.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The author has no conflicts of interest to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sakamoto, Y. The branching pattern of the middle temporal artery and the relation with the temporal fascia. Surg Radiol Anat 43, 1867–1874 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-021-02790-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-021-02790-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation