Mateusz Koziej1,2, Marek Trybus3, Mateusz Hołda4, Jakub Wnuk5, Jakub Polak5, Paweł Brzegowy5, Tadeusz Popiela5, Jerzy Walocha4, Krzysztof Tomaszewski4, Anna Chrapusta2. 1. Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College. 2. Malopolska Center for Burns and Plastic Surgery, The Ludwik Rydygier Hospital, Krakow, Poland. 3. Second Department of General Surgery, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland. 4. Professor and Head of the Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College. 5. Radiologist and Head of the Department of Radiology, Department of Rescue Medicine and Multiorgan Trauma University Hospital, Krakow, Poland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The superficial temporal artery (STA), a terminal branch of the external carotid artery, supplies multiple regions of the scalp and face. Knowledge of the STA is important for reconstructive and aesthetic procedures of the head and face. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to map the STA in relation to anatomical landmarks. METHODS: Computed tomographic head angiographies of 215 patients were included in this study; the final analysis comprised 419 STAs. The STA's main branches and variants were identified. The diameters of the STA and its frontal and occipital branches were measured, and the distance between the STA tree and anatomical landmarks was delineated. RESULTS: Frontal and parietal branches were recorded in 98.1% and 90.7% of patients, respectively. The mean diameters, measured 1 and 7 cm from the STA bifurcation for the frontal branch, were 0.97 ± 0.32 and 0.81 ± 0.26 mm, respectively, and for the parietal branch, the diameters were 0.96 ± 0.28 and 0.76 ± 0.23 mm, respectively. The STA bifurcation point was located above the zygomatic arch (ZA) in 75.6%, below in 14.7%, and on the ZA in 9.7% of patients. The mean distance from the ZA center to the STA bifurcation was 16.8 ± 16.0 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The STA artery and its main branches follow a conservative course, and serious anatomical variations are relatively rare. The STA and its main branches may be localized using simple anatomical landmarks. An anatomical map showing artery-free zones in the lateral forehead region was presented, which may prove useful for plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgeons. Level of Evidence: 4.
BACKGROUND: The superficial temporal artery (STA), a terminal branch of the external carotid artery, supplies multiple regions of the scalp and face. Knowledge of the STA is important for reconstructive and aesthetic procedures of the head and face. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to map the STA in relation to anatomical landmarks. METHODS: Computed tomographic head angiographies of 215 patients were included in this study; the final analysis comprised 419 STAs. The STA's main branches and variants were identified. The diameters of the STA and its frontal and occipital branches were measured, and the distance between the STA tree and anatomical landmarks was delineated. RESULTS: Frontal and parietal branches were recorded in 98.1% and 90.7% of patients, respectively. The mean diameters, measured 1 and 7 cm from the STA bifurcation for the frontal branch, were 0.97 ± 0.32 and 0.81 ± 0.26 mm, respectively, and for the parietal branch, the diameters were 0.96 ± 0.28 and 0.76 ± 0.23 mm, respectively. The STA bifurcation point was located above the zygomatic arch (ZA) in 75.6%, below in 14.7%, and on the ZA in 9.7% of patients. The mean distance from the ZA center to the STA bifurcation was 16.8 ± 16.0 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The STA artery and its main branches follow a conservative course, and serious anatomical variations are relatively rare. The STA and its main branches may be localized using simple anatomical landmarks. An anatomical map showing artery-free zones in the lateral forehead region was presented, which may prove useful for plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgeons. Level of Evidence: 4.