Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

Where can the superficial temporal artery be palpated?

1. On the forehead

2. Just posterior to the ear

3. Just anterior to the tragus

4. At the base of the skull

The correct answer is: Just anterior to the tragus

The superficial temporal artery can be palpated just anterior to the tragus, which is the small, rounded, protruding part of the outer ear. This location is significant because the artery emerges from the external carotid artery and travels toward the temporal region of the head, making the area immediately in front of the tragus a suitable point for palpation. Being able to detect the pulse of the superficial temporal artery is an important skill in clinical practice, as it provides valuable vascular information about the status of blood flow to the regions of the face and scalp. The anatomical proximity of this artery to the tragus facilitates easier detection. Other locations provided in the options are either anatomically incorrect or less relevant for palpation of this specific artery, as the superficial temporal artery does not traverse those areas directly and might be obscured or too deep to palpate effectively in those positions.