View of left posterolateral neck. Most of the ramus of the mandible has been removed. Posterior to the ramus is the facial nerve and external carotid artery. Both are contained within the substance of the parotid gland, which has been removed. The superficial temporal artery, a terminal branch of the external carotid, crosses the root of the zygomatic arch to the lateral scalp region. Posterior to the condyle of the mandible is the external acoustic meatus. Posterior to this is the mastoid process to which attaches the longissimus capitis muscle superficially and the posterior digastric on its medial surface. The posterior digastric muscle narrows to an intermediate tendon that unites with the greater horn of the hyoid bone. The hypoglossal nerve passes deep to the intermediate tendon and mylohyoid muscle to enter the floor of the mouth. Descending obliquely on the upper external surface of the internal jugular vein is the spinal accessory nerve. The transverse cervical nerve lies slightly more inferior. Posterior to the vein is the levator scapulae muscle. The occipital artery, a branch of the external carotid, is shown passing deep to longissimus and coursing medially on the surface of the obliquus capitis superior and semispinalis capitis muscles. It penetrates the overlying splenius capitis and trapezius muscles to ascend onto the posterior scalp in company with the greater occipital nerve. (Image courtesy of AL Rhoton, Jr.)