Caroticotympanic artery

Last revised by Grace Carpenter on 3 Jan 2021

The caroticotympanic branch (tympanic branch) is a small branch from the C2 segment of the internal carotid artery. It is a vestigial remnant of the hyoid artery.

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.

Summary

  • origin: the 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

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