Retromandibular vein

Infobox Vein
Name = Posterior facial vein
Latin = vena retromandibularis, vena facialis posterior
GraySubject = 167
GrayPage = 646

---

Caption = Veins of the head and neck. (Post. facial visible at center.)

---

Caption2 = Dissection, showing salivary glands of right side. (Post. facial vein visible at bottom center.)
DrainsFrom =
Source = superficial temporal vein, maxillary veins | DrainsTo = external jugular vein
Artery = facial artery
MeshName =
MeshNumber =
DorlandsPre = v_05
DorlandsSuf = 12851638
The retromandibular vein (temporomaxillary vein, posterior facial vein), formed by the union of the superficial temporal and maxillary veins, descends in the substance of the parotid gland, superficial to the external carotid artery but beneath the facial nerve, between the ramus of the mandible and the sternocleidomastoideus muscle.

It divides into two branches:
* an "anterior", which passes forward and unites with the anterior facial vein to form the common facial vein.
* a "posterior", which is joined by the posterior auricular vein and becomes the external jugular vein.

External links

* - "Infratemporal fossa: The Pterygoid plexus of Veins"
* (NormanAnatomyFig|parotid2)
*
* [http://iris3.med.tufts.edu/medgross/hd6ans.htm Tufts.edu]