Retromandibular vein
{{Short description|Major face vein}}
{{Infobox vein
| Name = Retromandibular vein
| Latin = vena retromandibularis,
vena facialis posterior
| Image = Gray557.png
| Caption = Veins of the head and neck
(retromandibular vein visible at center).
| Image2 = Gray1024.png
| Caption2 = Dissection, showing salivary glands of right side (retromandibular vein visible at bottom center).
| DrainsFrom =
| Source = Superficial temporal vein,
maxillary veins
| DrainsTo = External jugular vein
| Artery = Facial artery
}}
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{{Cite book |last=Sinnatamby |first=Chummy S. |title=Last's Anatomy |publisher= |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-7295-3752-0 |edition=12th |pages=364}} by the confluence of the maxillary vein, and superficial temporal vein.{{Citation|last1=Thompson|first1=Stevan H.|title=4 - Anatomy Relevant to Head, Neck, and Orofacial Infections|date=2016-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323289450000041|work=Head, Neck, and Orofacial Infections|pages=60–93|editor-last=Hupp|editor-first=James R.|place=St. Louis|publisher=Elsevier|language=en|doi=10.1016/b978-0-323-28945-0.00004-1|isbn=978-0-323-28945-0|access-date=2020-11-11|last2=Yeung|first2=Alison Y.|editor2-last=Ferneini|editor2-first=Elie M.|url-access=subscription}}{{Citation|last1=Cunningham|first1=Larry L.|title=Chapter 38 - Mandibular Subcondylar Fractures|date=2012-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781416025276000384|work=Current Therapy In Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery|pages=298–304|editor-last=Bagheri|editor-first=Shahrokh C.|place=Saint Louis|publisher=W.B. Saunders|language=en|doi=10.1016/b978-1-4160-2527-6.00038-4|isbn=978-1-4160-2527-6|access-date=2020-11-11|last2=Card|first2=Aaron Sterling|editor2-last=Bell|editor2-first=R. Bryan|editor3-last=Khan|editor3-first=Husain Ali|url-access=subscription}}
= Course =
It descends inside parotid gland, superficial to the external carotid artery (but beneath the facial nerve),{{Citation|last1=Loukota|first1=Richard A.|title=6 - Condylar Fractures|date=2017-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978070206056400006X|work=Maxillofacial Surgery (Third Edition)|pages=74–92|editor-last=Brennan|editor-first=Peter A.|publisher=Churchill Livingstone|language=en|doi=10.1016/b978-0-7020-6056-4.00006-x|isbn=978-0-7020-6056-4|access-date=2020-11-11|last2=Abdel-Galil|first2=Khalid|editor2-last=Schliephake|editor2-first=Henning|editor3-last=Ghali|editor3-first=G. E.|editor4-last=Cascarini|editor4-first=Luke|url-access=subscription}} between the sternocleidomastoideus muscle and ramus of mandible.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}} 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).{{Citation|last=Cramer|first=Gregory D.|title=Chapter 5 - The Cervical Region|date=2014-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323079549000050|work=Clinical Anatomy of the Spine, Spinal Cord, and Ans (Third Edition)|pages=135–209|editor-last=Cramer|editor-first=Gregory D.|place=Saint Louis|publisher=Mosby|language=en|doi=10.1016/b978-0-323-07954-9.00005-0|isbn=978-0-323-07954-9|access-date=2020-11-11|editor2-last=Darby|editor2-first=Susan A.|url-access=subscription}}
- 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.{{Cite book|last=Drake, Richard L. (Richard Lee), 1950-|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/55139039|title=Gray's anatomy for students|date=2005|publisher=Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone|others=Vogl, Wayne., Mitchell, Adam W. M., Gray, Henry, 1825-1861.|isbn=0-443-06612-4|location=Philadelphia|oclc=55139039}}
Function
The retromandibular vein provides venous drainage to the superior cranium, and significant drainage to the ear.{{Citation|last=Posnick|first=Jeffrey C.|title=39 - Aesthetic Alteration of Prominent Ears: Evaluation and Surgery|date=2014-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781455726981000393|work=Orthognathic Surgery|pages=1703–1745|editor-last=Posnick|editor-first=Jeffrey C.|place=St. Louis|publisher=W.B. Saunders|language=en|doi=10.1016/b978-1-4557-2698-1.00039-3|isbn=978-1-4557-2698-1|access-date=2020-11-11|url-access=subscription}}
Clinical significance
{{Disputed|Existence|date=November 2020|talkpage=Talk:Parrot's sign|what=clinical sign}}
Parrot's sign is a sensation of pain when pressure is applied to the retromandibular region.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}
Additional images
File:Lateral head anatomy detail.jpg|Lateral head anatomy detail
References
{{Gray's}}
External links
- {{SUNYAnatomyLabs|27|13|01|03}} - "Infratemporal fossa: The Pterygoid plexus of Veins"
- {{NormanAnatomy|lesson4}} ({{NormanAnatomyFig|parotid2}})
- [http://iris3.med.tufts.edu/medgross/hd6ans.htm Tufts.edu]
{{VeinsHeadNeck}}
{{Portal bar|Anatomy}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Veins of the head and neck
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