The superficial temporal vein accompanies the superficial temporal artery in the temporal region, draining the lateral scalp and temple. It descends anterior to the ear and enters the parotid gland, where it joins the maxillary vein to form the retromandibular vein. It receives the transverse facial vein and the middle temporal vein as tributaries.
The superficial temporal vein is the venous component of the superficial temporal artery-vein pedicle used for extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass surgery, scalp flaps, and temporal craniotomy closure. In parotidectomy, the superficial temporal vein must be preserved or ligated within the parotid gland. The vein is distended and visible in temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis), though the diagnosis is confirmed by biopsy of the superficial temporal artery rather than the vein.
Temporal craniotomy skin incision must avoid the superficial temporal artery-vein pedicle running in the preauricular superficial temporal fascia to preserve scalp flap viability; the incision is curved posterior to the STA pedicle, and the temporalis fascia is opened posterior to the pedicle to preserve the vascular supply to the skin flap.
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