Caroticotympanic artery
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Gaillard F, Zhou E, Carpenter G, et al. Caroticotympanic artery. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 11 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-4762
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4762
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At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.
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At the time the article was last revised Frank Gaillard had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures
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Synonyms:
- caroticotympanic artery
The caroticotympanic branch (tympanic branch) is a small branch from the petrous (C2) segment of the internal carotid artery, which is not often identified on routine imaging nor on dissection 11. It is believed to be a vestigial remnant of the hyoid artery 1,2.
When identified, it passes posterolaterally into the middle ear cavity and anastomoses with the inferior tympanic artery (a branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery). It is this anastomosis that forms the basis of the aberrant internal carotid artery. It also anastomoses with the anterior tympanic artery (a branch of the maxillary artery) to supply the tympanic cavity 2.
Summary
origin: the petrous (C2) segment of the internal carotid artery
course: passes posterolaterally into the middle ear cavity
branches: small, to the middle ear
termination: anastomoses with tympanic arteries
References
- 1. Anne G. Osborn. Diagnostic Cerebral Angiography. (1999) ISBN: 9780397584048 - Google Books
- 2. Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. (2020) ISBN: 9780702077050 - Google Books
- 3. Andreo J, Caldas Navarro J, Toledo Filho J, de Araújo J. Caroticotympanic Artery: Anatomically a Normal Branch or a Variation of the Internal Carotid Artery? Cells Tissues Organs. 2000;166(3):319-22. doi:10.1159/000016745 - Pubmed
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