Inferior tympanic artery

The inferior tympanic artery is a small branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery which passes through the tympanic canaliculus alongside the tympanic branch of glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) to reach and provide arterial supply to the medial wall of the tympanic cavity where it forms anastomoses with the other tympanic arteries.

Clinical significance

In the case of a missing or underdeveloped cervical ICA, the Inferior tympanic artery can provide collateral ICA circulation by reversing flow of the caroticotympanic artery. This can result in pulsatile tinnitus. The resulting aberrant carotid artery can mimic neoplasm on CT.