The superficial temporal artery is one of the two terminal branches of the external carotid artery, originating within the parotid gland just anterior to the ear. It ascends over the zygomatic process to supply the lateral scalp and temporal region, dividing into frontal and parietal branches and giving off smaller branches that anastomose with ophthalmic and other scalp vessels.

Yes. The superficial temporal artery runs in front of the ear, over the zygomatic arch and across the temple, and can often be felt as a pulsing cord when you place fingertips gently there. It’s more noticeable in thinner people or with a strong pulse. New tenderness, swelling, or decreased pulse can signal temporal arteritis and should prompt medical evaluation.

The superficial temporal artery — a terminal branch of the external carotid — ascends over the temple and divides into frontal and parietal branches. It gives off the transverse facial artery and forms anastomoses with branches of the ophthalmic (supraorbital/supratrochlear), occipital and posterior auricular arteries, communicates with facial artery branches and with the contralateral superficial temporal artery.

Pain over the superficial temporal artery can stem from muscle tension, migraine or cluster headache, temporalis tendinopathy, TMJ dysfunction, scalp infection or trauma, or inflammation of the artery (temporal arteritis). Temporal arteritis—usually in people over 50—causes throbbing temple pain, scalp tenderness, jaw claudication, fever and risk of vision loss and needs urgent medical evaluation and treatment. See a doctor for severe pain or vision changes.

The superficial temporal artery arises from the external carotid within the parotid, ascends anterior to the tragus, crosses the zygomatic arch, and runs superficial to the temporal fascia across the temple. It is palpable just above the zygomatic arch anterior to the ear. It ascends toward the vertex and typically divides into frontal and parietal branches in the temporal region.

Superficial temporal artery aneurysms are most often post‑traumatic pseudoaneurysms: blunt or penetrating injury to the temple causes a tear in the arterial wall and a contained hematoma that communicates with the lumen, producing a pulsatile mass. Less commonly they arise as true aneurysms from atherosclerosis, infection, vasculitis, connective‑tissue disorders, or after iatrogenic arterial injury.