Anterior ethmoidal artery

The anterior ethmoidal artery, is a branch of the ophthalmic artery in the orbit.[1] It exits the orbit through the anterior ethmoidal foramen. The posterior ethmoidal artery is posterior to it.

Anterior ethmoidal artery
The ophthalmic artery and its branches
(anterior and posterior ethmoid labeled at left)
Details
SourceOphthalmic artery
Branchesbranches to ethmoid air cells and frontal sinus, meningeal branch, nasal branches
VeinEthmoidal veins
SuppliesAnterior and middle ethmoidal cells, frontal sinus
Identifiers
LatinArteria ethmoidalis anterior
TAA12.2.06.039
FMA49986
Anatomical terminology

Structure

The anterior ethmoidal artery branches from the ophthalmic artery distal to the posterior ethmoidal artery. It travels with the anterior ethmoidal nerve to exit the medial wall of the orbit at the anterior ethmoidal foramen. It then travels through the anterior ethmoidal canal and gives branches which supply the frontal sinus and anterior and middle ethmoid air cells. Following which, it enters the anterior cranial fossa where it bifurcates into a meningeal branch and nasal branch.

The nasal branch travels through cribriform plate to enter the nasal cavity and runs in a groove on the deep surface of the nasal bone. Here it bifurcates into a medial and lateral branch. The lateral branch supplies blood to the lateral wall of the nasal cavity and the medial branch to the nasal septum. A terminal branch of the lateral branch, called the external nasal branch passes between the nasal bone and the nasal cartilage to supply the skin of the nose.

Branches
  • branches to ethmoid air cells and frontal sinus
  • meningeal branch (supplies some dura mater of anterior cranial fossa, has been called the anterior falx/falcine artery)[2]
  • nasal branches (travel through cribriform foramina to enter the nasal cavity)
    • lateral nasal branch (supplies lateral wall of nasal cavity)
      • external nasal branch (supplies skin of nose)
    • medial nasal branch (supplies nasal septum)

See also

References
  1. Gray's anatomy : the anatomical basis of clinical practice. Standring, Susan (Forty-first ed.). [Philadelphia]. 2016. ISBN 978-0-7020-5230-9. OCLC 920806541.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. Pollock, James A.; Newton, Thomas H. (December 1968). "The Anterior Falx Artery: Normal and Pathologic Anatomy". Radiology. 91 (6): 1089–1095. doi:10.1148/91.6.1089. ISSN 0033-8419. PMID 5699608.
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