In the tissues medial to the ear canal lie the auricular and superficial temporal arteries. Laterally is the '''parotid salivary gland''' and also a branch of the [[Equine Cranial Nerves - Horse Anatomy#Facial Nerve (VII)|facial nerve (VII)]], external maxillary vein and branches of the external carotid artery. The [[Equine Cranial Nerves - Horse Anatomy#Facial Nerve (VII)|facial nerve]] exits the skull through the stylomastoid foramen behind the osseous bulla; it passes below the rostroventral aspect of the horizontal ear canal. The '''auriculo-temporal''' branch of the mandibular portion of the [[Equine Cranial Nerves - Horse Anatomy#Trigeminal Nerve (V)|trigeminal nerve]] (CN V) and branches of the [[Equine Cranial Nerves - Horse Anatomy#Facial Nerve (VII)|facial nerve]] pass rostral to the vertical ear canal. | In the tissues medial to the ear canal lie the auricular and superficial temporal arteries. Laterally is the '''parotid salivary gland''' and also a branch of the [[Equine Cranial Nerves - Horse Anatomy#Facial Nerve (VII)|facial nerve (VII)]], external maxillary vein and branches of the external carotid artery. The [[Equine Cranial Nerves - Horse Anatomy#Facial Nerve (VII)|facial nerve]] exits the skull through the stylomastoid foramen behind the osseous bulla; it passes below the rostroventral aspect of the horizontal ear canal. The '''auriculo-temporal''' branch of the mandibular portion of the [[Equine Cranial Nerves - Horse Anatomy#Trigeminal Nerve (V)|trigeminal nerve]] (CN V) and branches of the [[Equine Cranial Nerves - Horse Anatomy#Facial Nerve (VII)|facial nerve]] pass rostral to the vertical ear canal. |