Anterior ethmoidal artery
Encyclopedia
The anterior ethmoidal artery, also anterior ethmoid artery is an artery
of the head.
, it accompanies the nasociliary nerve
through the anterior ethmoidal canal to supply the anterior and middle ethmoidal cells, frontal sinus
, and anterosuperior aspect of the lateral nasal wall.
Artery
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. This blood is normally oxygenated, exceptions made for the pulmonary and umbilical arteries....
of the head.
Course
Once branching from the ophthalmic arteryOphthalmic artery
The ophthalmic artery is the first branch of the internal carotid artery distal to the cavernous sinus. Branches of the OA supply all the structures in the orbit as well as some structures in the nose, face and meninges...
, it accompanies the nasociliary nerve
Nasociliary nerve
The nasociliary nerve is a branch of the ophthalmic nerve. It is intermediate in size between the two other main branches of the ophthalmic nerve, the frontal nerve and the lacrimal nerve, and is more deeply placed.-Path:...
through the anterior ethmoidal canal to supply the anterior and middle ethmoidal cells, frontal sinus
Frontal sinus
Sinuses are mucosa-lined airspaces within the bones of the face and skull. The frontal sinuses, situated behind the superciliary arches, are absent at birth, but are generally fairly well developed between the seventh and eighth years, only reaching their full size after puberty...
, and anterosuperior aspect of the lateral nasal wall.
Branches
When entering the cranium, it gives off:- a meningeal branch to the dura materDura materThe dura mater , or dura, is the outermost of the three layers of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is derived from Mesoderm. The other two meningeal layers are the pia mater and the arachnoid mater. The dura surrounds the brain and the spinal cord and is responsible for...
, also known as the "anterior meningeal artery".
- nasal branches. These latter descend into the nasal cavityNasal cavityThe nasal cavity is a large air filled space above and behind the nose in the middle of the face.- Function :The nasal cavity conditions the air to be received by the other areas of the respiratory tract...
through the slit by the side of the crista galliCrista galliThe crista galli is a median ridge of bone that projects from the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone.It is where the falx cerebri attaches anteriorly to the skull....
, and, running along the groove on the inner surface of the nasal boneNasal boneThe nasal bones are two small oblong bones, varying in size and form in different individuals; they are placed side by side at the middle and upper part of the face, and form, by their junction, "the bridge" of the nose.Each has two surfaces and four borders....
, supply branches to the lateral wall and septumSeptumIn anatomy, a septum is a wall, dividing a cavity or structure into smaller ones.-In human anatomy:...
of the nose, and a terminal branch which appears on the dorsum of the nose between the nasal boneNasal boneThe nasal bones are two small oblong bones, varying in size and form in different individuals; they are placed side by side at the middle and upper part of the face, and form, by their junction, "the bridge" of the nose.Each has two surfaces and four borders....
and the lateral cartilage.
External links
- http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_45/45-6.HTM