The Artery Microanatomy Of Auricle And Its Clinical Application

Objective:To study the course,distribution and anastomosis of auditory arteries,measure the maximal diameters at different planes,and provide anatomical guides for clinical treatments involving the arteries around this area.Methods:8 specimens were selected randomly and 16 ears were perfused with red latex to observe the arterial distribution and diameters of posterior auriculary artery and superficial temporary artery.All the diameters were measured by vernier caliper,the reading error is 0.02mm. Data was handled by spss 11.0 analysis system.Results:1.The main arterial blood supply to the auricular region came from the posterior auricular artery and superficial temporary artery.The former derived from the posterior wall of external carotid artery and the latter was one of external carotid artery terminal branches.At the initial segments from external carotid artery,the diameter of the posterior auricular artery and superficial temporary artery was respectively 2.02±0.06mm and 2.32±0.02mm.2.Originated from the posterior wall in external carotid artery,posterior auricular artery traveled to the rear and tightly on the mastoid bone between the anterolateral of mastoid process and ear cartilage.Going on the surface of ear cartilage,its branches supplied blood to the interside of auricle and up-going provided blood to temple and occipital segments. After running across parotid gland superficial temporary artery traveled between the neck of mandible and anterior border of ear cartilage.The blood supply to lateral surface of auricle was from this artery and it seperated into frontal and parietal terminal branches above zygomatic arch.Then the frontal terminal branches send out parietal and orbital branches above outer canthus.3.The posterior auricular artery and superficial temporal artery,both dividing into upper,intermedia and lower branches,separately distributed in the anterior surface and posterior surface of aural region.The diameters of these branches at the start were 1.02±0.02mm,0.98±0.06mm,1.02±0.04mm,0.80±0.06mm,0.98±0.06mm,0.80±0.04mm from upper to lower branches.4.The upper aural branches and intermedia aural branches of posterior auricular artery,running across ear cartilage,distributed in the anterolateral aural region.Diameters of the upper branches at triangular fossa and intermedia branches at the ear courtyard were 0.62±0.04mm,0.72±0.02mm.5.Superficial temporal artery had three branches and anastomosed with posterior auricular artery.The upper aural branches and intermedia aural branches of posterior auricular artery and superficial temporal artery anastomosed with each other at triangular fossa and the ear courtyard.6.88%of blood supply to earlobe was from the shimoni branches of posterior auricular artery and 12%was from the shimoni branches of superficial temporary artery.7.The marginal blood-supply of helix sourced from vessel chains.In medial surface,the chain were consisted of all the auricular branches of posterior auricular artery.The upper auricular branch of superficial temporal artery anastomosed with the middle or lower auricular perforating branches of posterior auricular artery,which jointly constituted vessel chains in the portion of scapha.Conclusion:1.The main arterial blood supply to the retroauricular region came from the posterior auricular artery and superficial temporal artery,both of which originated from the external carotid artery. 2.Among these,the outer half of the ear was supplied by posterior auricular artery and the inner half of the eat was from superficial temporary artery.The arteries and their branches anastomosed with each other.The superficial temporal artery is much bulky,but the branches which applied auricular is extenuation.3.The branches of posterior auricular artery and superficial temporal artery anastomosed with each other.4.The blood supply to earlobe is independent.88%of blood supply was from the shimoni branches of posterior auricular artery and 12%was from the shimoni branches of superficial temporary artery.This provided anatomic basis for replanation of earlobe in clinical.5.The marginal blood-supply of helix sourced from vessel chains.In medial surface,the chain were consisted of all the auricular branches of posterior auricular artery.The upper auricular branch of superficial temporal artery anastomosed with the middle or lower auricular perforating branches of posterior auricular artery,which jointly constituted vessel chains in the portion of scapha.6.These study about arteries in aural region provided anatomic evidence for replantation of amputated ear,ear reconstruction,flap survival and other surgeries in this area.