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Retromandibular vein
Veins of the head and neck (retromandibular vein visible at center).
Dissection, showing salivary glands of right side (retromandibular vein visible at bottom center).
Details
Source	Superficial temporal vein, maxillary veins
Drains to	External jugular vein
Artery	Facial artery
Identifiers
Latin	vena retromandibularis, vena facialis posterior
TA98	A12.3.05.031
TA2	4831
FMA	50928
Anatomical terminology[edit on Wikidata]

The retromandibular vein (temporomaxillary vein, posterior facial vein) is a major vein of the face. It is formed within the parotid gland by the confluence of the maxillary vein, and superficial temporal vein. It descends in the gland and splits into two branches upon emerging from the gland. Its anterior branch then joins the (anterior) facial vein forming the common facial vein, while its posterior branch joins the posterior auricular vein forming the external jugular vein.

Anatomy

Origin

The retromandibular vein is formed within the parotid gland by the confluence of the maxillary vein, and superficial temporal vein.

Course

It descends inside parotid gland, superficial to the external carotid artery (but beneath the facial nerve), between the sternocleidomastoideus muscle and ramus of mandible. It emerges from the parotid gland inferiorly, then immediately divides into two branches:

• an anterior branch which passes anterior-ward to unite with the (anterior) facial vein forming the common facial vein (which then empties into the internal jugular vein).
• a posterior branch which penetrates the investing layer of the deep cervical fascia before uniting with the posterior auricular vein forming the external jugular vein.

Function

The retromandibular vein provides venous drainage to the superior cranium, and significant drainage to the ear.

Clinical significance

This clinical sign's factual accuracy is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on Talk:Parrot's sign. Please help to ensure that disputed statements are reliably sourced. (November 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Parrot's sign is a sensation of pain when pressure is applied to the retromandibular region.

Additional images

• Lateral head anatomy detail

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 646 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

1. ^ Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). p. 364. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
2. Thompson, Stevan H.; Yeung, Alison Y. (2016-01-01), Hupp, James R.; Ferneini, Elie M. (eds.), "4 - Anatomy Relevant to Head, Neck, and Orofacial Infections", Head, Neck, and Orofacial Infections, St. Louis: Elsevier, pp. 60–93, doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-28945-0.00004-1, ISBN 978-0-323-28945-0, retrieved 2020-11-11
3. Cunningham, Larry L.; Card, Aaron Sterling (2012-01-01), Bagheri, Shahrokh C.; Bell, R. Bryan; Khan, Husain Ali (eds.), "Chapter 38 - Mandibular Subcondylar Fractures", Current Therapy In Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Saint Louis: W.B. Saunders, pp. 298–304, doi:10.1016/b978-1-4160-2527-6.00038-4, ISBN 978-1-4160-2527-6, retrieved 2020-11-11
4. ^ Loukota, Richard A.; Abdel-Galil, Khalid (2017-01-01), Brennan, Peter A.; Schliephake, Henning; Ghali, G. E.; Cascarini, Luke (eds.), "6 - Condylar Fractures", Maxillofacial Surgery (Third Edition), Churchill Livingstone, pp. 74–92, doi:10.1016/b978-0-7020-6056-4.00006-x, ISBN 978-0-7020-6056-4, retrieved 2020-11-11
5. ^ Cramer, Gregory D. (2014-01-01), Cramer, Gregory D.; Darby, Susan A. (eds.), "Chapter 5 - The Cervical Region", Clinical Anatomy of the Spine, Spinal Cord, and Ans (Third Edition), Saint Louis: Mosby, pp. 135–209, doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-07954-9.00005-0, ISBN 978-0-323-07954-9, retrieved 2020-11-11
6. Drake, Richard L. (Richard Lee), 1950- (2005). Gray's anatomy for students. Vogl, Wayne., Mitchell, Adam W. M., Gray, Henry, 1825-1861. Philadelphia: Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone. ISBN 0-443-06612-4. OCLC 55139039.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
7. Posnick, Jeffrey C. (2014-01-01), Posnick, Jeffrey C. (ed.), "39 - Aesthetic Alteration of Prominent Ears: Evaluation and Surgery", Orthognathic Surgery, St. Louis: W.B. Saunders, pp. 1703–1745, doi:10.1016/b978-1-4557-2698-1.00039-3, ISBN 978-1-4557-2698-1, retrieved 2020-11-11

External links

• Anatomy photo:27:13-0103 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Infratemporal fossa: The Pterygoid plexus of Veins"
• lesson4 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (parotid2)
• Tufts.edu

• Anatomy

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