Posterior ethmoidal artery
Encyclopedia
The posterior ethmoidal artery is an artery
of the head which supplies the nasal septum
. It is smaller than the anterior ethmoidal artery
.
, it passes between the upper border of the medial rectus muscle
and superior oblique muscle
to enter the posterior ethmoidal canal. It exits into the nasal cavity
to supply posterior ethmoidal cells and nasal septum
; here it anastomoses with the sphenopalatine artery
.
There is often a meningeal branch to the dura mater
while it is still contained within the cranium.
of the anterior cranial fossa
, and the upper part of the nasal mucosa of the nasal septum
.
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 which supplies the nasal septum
Nasal septum
The nasal septum separates the left and right airways in the nose, dividing the two nostrils.It is depressed by the Depressor septi nasi muscle.-Composition:The fleshy external end of the nasal septum is sometimes also called columella....
. It is smaller than the anterior ethmoidal artery
Anterior ethmoidal artery
The anterior ethmoidal artery, also anterior ethmoid artery is an artery of the head.-Course:Once branching from the ophthalmic artery, it accompanies the nasociliary nerve through the anterior ethmoidal canal to supply the anterior and middle ethmoidal cells, frontal sinus, and anterosuperior...
.
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 passes between the upper border of the medial rectus muscle
Medial rectus muscle
The medial rectus muscle is a muscle in the orbit.As with most of the muscles of the orbit, it is innervated by the inferior division of the oculomotor nerve ....
and superior oblique muscle
Superior oblique muscle
For the abdominal muscle see: Abdominal external oblique muscleThe superior oblique muscle, or obliquus oculi superior, is a fusiform muscle originating in the upper, medial side of the orbit which abducts, depresses and internally rotates the eye...
to enter the posterior ethmoidal canal. It exits into the nasal cavity
Nasal cavity
The 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...
to supply posterior ethmoidal cells and nasal septum
Nasal septum
The nasal septum separates the left and right airways in the nose, dividing the two nostrils.It is depressed by the Depressor septi nasi muscle.-Composition:The fleshy external end of the nasal septum is sometimes also called columella....
; here it anastomoses with the sphenopalatine artery
Sphenopalatine artery
The sphenopalatine artery is an artery of the head, commonly known as the artery of epistaxis.-Course:The sphenopalatine artery is a branch of the maxillary artery which passes through the sphenopalatine foramen into the cavity of the nose, at the back part of the superior meatus...
.
There is often a meningeal branch to the dura mater
Dura mater
The 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...
while it is still contained within the cranium.
Supplies
This artery supplies the posterior ethmoidal air sinuses, dura materDura mater
The 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...
of the anterior cranial fossa
Anterior cranial fossa
The floor of the anterior fossa is formed by the orbital plates of the frontal, the cribriform plate of the ethmoid, and the small wings and front part of the body of the sphenoid; it is limited behind by the posterior borders of the small wings of the sphenoid and by the anterior margin of the...
, and the upper part of the nasal mucosa of the nasal septum
Nasal septum
The nasal septum separates the left and right airways in the nose, dividing the two nostrils.It is depressed by the Depressor septi nasi muscle.-Composition:The fleshy external end of the nasal septum is sometimes also called columella....
.
External links
- http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_45/45-6.HTM