Arterial anatomy of the ear.

The arterial anatomy of the ear was investigated using seven auricles of seven fresh cadavers that had been injected systematically with a lead oxide-gelatin mixture. The blood supplies of the upper portions of the helix, antihelix and scapha, triangular fossa, tragus and lobule were from the branches of the superficial temporal artery. The blood supplies of the chonca, the middle and lower portions of the helix and scapha, the lower part of the antihelix and most of the posterior auricular surface except the lobule were from the branches of the posterior auricular artery. The posterior auricular artery found to be the dominant blood supply for the ear.