The retromandibular vein (temporomaxillary vein, posterior facial vein), formed by the union of the superficial temporal and maxillary veins, descends in the substance of the parotid gland, superficial to the external carotid artery but beneath the facial nerve, between the ramus of the mandible and the sternocleidomastoideus muscle. It divides into two branches: an anterior, which passes forward and unites with the anterior facial vein to form the common facial vein. a posterior, which is joined by the posterior auricular vein and becomes the external jugular vein. [WP,unvetted].