# Maxillary vein

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Maxillary_vein.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxillary_vein
> Source revision: 1301129722
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Vein of the head}}
{{Infobox vein
| Name        = Maxillary vein
| Latin       = vena maxillaris
| Image       = Gray557.png
| Caption     = Veins of the head and neck. (Internal maxillary vein visible at center.)
| Image2      = Lateral head anatomy detail.jpg
| Caption2    = Lateral head anatomy detail
| DrainsFrom  =
| DrainsTo    = [Retromandibular vein](/source/Retromandibular_vein)
| Artery      = [Maxillary artery](/source/Maxillary_artery)
}}

The '''maxillary vein''' or '''internal maxillary vein''' is a [vein](/source/vein) of the [head](/source/head). It is a short trunk which accompanies (the first part of) the [maxillary artery](/source/maxillary_artery). It is formed by a confluence of the veins of the [pterygoid plexus](/source/pterygoid_plexus). It and passes posterior-ward between the [sphenomandibular ligament](/source/sphenomandibular_ligament) and the neck of the [mandible](/source/Human_mandible) to enter the [parotid gland](/source/parotid_gland) where unites with the [superficial temporal vein](/source/superficial_temporal_vein) to form the [retromandibular vein](/source/retromandibular_vein) ([posterior facial vein](/source/posterior_facial_vein)).'''<ref name=":224">{{Cite book |last=Standring |first=Susan |title=Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice |year=2020 |isbn=978-0-7020-7707-4 |edition=42th |location=New York |pages=680 |oclc=1201341621}}</ref>'''

== Structure ==
=== Development ===
The maxillary vein may be the embryological origin of the [central retinal vein](/source/central_retinal_vein).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Remington|first=Lee Ann|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781437719260100074|title=Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of the Visual System|publisher=[Butterworth-Heinemann](/source/Butterworth-Heinemann)|year=2012|isbn=978-1-4377-1926-0|edition=3rd|pages=123–143|language=en|chapter=7 - Ocular Embryology|doi=10.1016/B978-1-4377-1926-0.10007-4}}</ref>

== Additional images ==
<gallery>
File:Head ap anatomy.jpg|Head anatomy anterior view
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Gray's}}
<references />

{{VeinsHeadNeck}}
{{Portal bar|Anatomy}}
{{Authority control}}

Category:Veins of the head and neck

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Maxillary vein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxillary_vein) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxillary_vein?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.