Inferior tympanic artery
The inferior tympanic artery is a small branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery which passes through the tympanic canaliculus alongside the tympanic branch of glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) to reach and provide arterial supply to the medial wall of the tympanic cavity[1] where it forms anastomoses with the other tympanic arteries.
Inferior tympanic artery | |
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Details | |
Precursor | aortic arch 2 |
Source | Ascending pharyngeal artery |
Identifiers | |
Latin | Arteria tympanica inferior |
TA98 | A12.2.05.013 |
TA2 | 4381 |
FMA | 49506 |
Anatomical terminology |
Clinical significance
In the case of a missing or underdeveloped cervical ICA, the Inferior tympanic artery can provide collateral ICA circulation by reversing flow of the caroticotympanic artery (embryologic hyoid artery). This can result in pulsatile tinnitus. The resulting aberrant carotid artery can mimic neoplasm on CT.
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 557 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. pp. 585–586. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.
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