Middle temporal artery: anatomy in the temporal fossa
- Artery
Quick facts
- Origin
- Branch of the superficial temporal artery, just above the zygomatic arch, in front of the ear.
- Course
- Pierces the deep temporal fascia and runs in the lower and middle part of the temple, between the fat and the temporalis muscle.
- Territory
- Temporal fascia and temporalis muscle.
- Communications
- With the deep temporal arteries, branches of the maxillary artery.
- Relevance in facial harmonization
- One of the risk arteries in the temple, in an intermediate plane between the superficial and the deep ones.
The middle temporal artery is a branch of the superficial temporal artery that arises just above the zygomatic arch, in front of the ear, pierces the deep temporal fascia and runs in a deeper plane of the temple, between the fat and the temporalis muscle. It supplies the fascia and the muscle and communicates with the deep temporal arteries. In facial harmonization (known in Brazil as HOF, orofacial harmonization), it is on the list of arteries that make the temple a high vascular risk zone.
What is the course of the middle temporal artery?
| Segment | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Origin | Superficial temporal artery, just above the zygomatic arch |
| Deep temporal fascia | The artery pierces it, leaving the superficial plane |
| Lower and middle temple | Runs alongside the temporal fat pads and the temporalis muscle |
| Temporalis muscle | Branches and communicates with the deep temporal arteries |
The height at which it pierces the fascia, its caliber and its direction vary between people and between sides. For this reason, anatomical maps of the temple describe areas of greater or lesser vascular density, not exact lines.
How is the temple organized into vascular planes?
The temple has vessels at several levels, and the middle temporal artery occupies the intermediate level:
| Plane | Main vessels |
|---|---|
| Superficial (temporoparietal fascia) | Superficial temporal artery and its frontal and parietal branches |
| Intermediate (between and under the layers of the deep fascia) | Middle temporal artery and middle temporal vein |
| Deep (against the bone) | Deep temporal arteries, branches of the maxillary artery |
This organization explains why choosing the plane in the temple is an anatomical decision, not only a product decision. The details of the layers are in temporal fossa and in temporal adhesion.
Why does it matter in facial harmonization?
- Occlusion risk: the middle temporal artery communicates with the network of the superficial temporal artery and with the deep ones. Through the superficial temporal artery, there is a link to branches of the ophthalmic system in the forehead, the basis of the risk of a complication at a distance.
- Bruising: the lower temple concentrates the artery and the large middle temporal vein, close to the zygomatic arch.
- Reading the hollow temple: volume loss makes vessels more visible in some people, which helps in noticing the venous network, but does not replace knowledge of the arteries.
How does it show up in the assessment?
- Palpating the temporal pulse in front of the ear, to locate the superficial temporal artery.
- Degree of temple hollowing at rest and while chewing, when the temporalis muscle contracts.
- Previous procedures in the region, surgical or injectable.
The procedure is covered in temple filler, and the overview of the areas requiring care in vascular danger zones of the face.
Also called: arteria temporalis media, middle temporal branch of the superficial temporal artery.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the superficial temporal artery and the middle temporal artery?
The superficial temporal artery runs outermost, in the temporoparietal fascia, and gives the pulse felt in front of the ear. The middle temporal artery is a branch of it that, just above the zygomatic arch, pierces the deep temporal fascia and runs deeper, next to the fat and the temporalis muscle.
Is the middle temporal artery the same thing as the middle temporal vein?
No. The middle temporal vein is a large vessel that runs in the fat between the layers of the deep temporal fascia, almost parallel to the zygomatic arch. The middle temporal artery is an arterial branch with a different course, which continues to the temporalis muscle.