Scalp Arteries

Description

Radially oriented scalp arteries course within the superficial fascia overlying the calvaria, with the superficial temporal artery ascending anterior to the auricle and dividing into frontal and parietal branches across the temporoparietal region. Anteriorly, the supratrochlear and supraorbital arteries emerge superior to the orbit and run superiorly within the forehead, superficial to the frontalis muscle and deep to the skin. Posteriorly, the occipital artery ascends from the posterior neck toward the occiput, while the posterior auricular artery tracks superior to the mastoid process along the posterior margin of the auricle. Adjacent superficial veins accompany these arterial territories and communicate freely across the midline. Scalp vascular anatomy matters because bleeding is often brisk and persistent after laceration, with arterial ends held open by dense connective tissue in the skin and epicranial aponeurosis. For surgeons planning a coronal incision, scalp flaps, or temporoparietal fascia flaps, the course of the superficial temporal artery and its branches determines both flap viability and the safest planes of dissection. Pulsatile tenderness and nodularity along the superficial temporal artery can also flag giant cell arteritis in older adults, a time-sensitive diagnosis because untreated ischemic optic neuropathy can cause sudden vision loss. Hemostasis here is never casual. Use this artwork for gross anatomy and head and neck courses to teach the relationship of the scalp vessels to the frontalis, orbicularis oculi, and sternocleidomastoid, and for otolaryngology, plastic surgery, and emergency medicine references covering scalp laceration repair, temporal artery biopsy, and regional flap planning. It also fits textbook chapters on extracranial carotid branches and superficial venous drainage patterns of the face and scalp. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.