Corpus: Anterior tympanic artery
1. Definition
The anterior tympanic artery is a branch of the maxillary artery.
2. Course
The anterior tympanic artery originates from the maxillary artery, travelling upwards behind the temporomandibular joint. It enters the tympanic cavity through the petrotympanic fissure. There it branches out extensively on the tympanic membrane, forming numerous small vascular branches. These branches connect with branches from the posterior auricular artery and the carotidotympanic branches from the internal carotid artery in a radial pattern.
3. Function
The anterior tympanic artery supplies the tympanic membrane.