| Persistent stapedial artery | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The main branches of the carotid arteries, the stapedial artery is visible in the top right in grey. | |
| Specialty | Otolaryngology, angiology |
| Symptoms | Pulsatile tinnitus, conductive hearing loss |
| Usual onset | From birth |
| Diagnostic method | CT scan, angiography, radiography |
| Treatment | Coagulation, hearing aids |
| Frequency | Extremely rare |
A persistent stapedial artery (PSA) is a rare anomaly in human anatomy where the stapedial branch of posterior auricular artery, or simply stapedial artery, remains within the ear of a fetus after the first ten weeks of pregnancy. Whilst not problematic for the majority of people with the anomaly, it can cause difficulties with hearing.