Maxillary vein
The maxillary vein or internal maxillary vein is a vein of the head. It is a short trunk which accompanies (the first part of) the maxillary artery. It is formed by a confluence of the veins of the pterygoid plexus. It and passes posterior-ward between the sphenomandibular ligament and the neck of the mandible to enter the parotid gland where unites with the superficial temporal vein to form the retromandibular vein (posterior facial vein). Structure Development The maxillary vein may be the embryological origin of the central retinal vein. Additional images References Veins of the head and neck