The arterial anatomy of the temporal region and the vascular basis of various temporal flaps.

The arterial anatomy of the temporal region was examined macroscopically and radiographically in 10 fresh cadavers which had been injected with lead oxide. The blood supply of the temporal region is derived from the superficial temporal, middle temporal, deep temporal, posterior auricular, transverse facial, zygomatico-orbital, zygomaticotemporal, zygomaticofacial, and middle meningeal arteries. The vascular network formed by these arteries can be divided into four arterial networks corresponding to the different layers of the temporal region. With a new understanding of the arterial networks and their anastomoses, the techniques for elevating various flaps in the temporal region are discussed.