Posterior ethmoidal artery

Posterior Ethmoidal Artery

Diagram of the arteries of the orbit, including the posterior ethmoidal artery.

The posterior ethmoidal artery is a small artery that supplies blood to the ethmoid bone and the nasal cavity. It is a branch of the ophthalmic artery, which itself is a branch of the internal carotid artery.

Anatomy

The posterior ethmoidal artery arises from the ophthalmic artery as it travels through the orbit. It typically branches off after the anterior ethmoidal artery and before the supraorbital artery.

Course

The artery passes through the posterior ethmoidal foramen, which is located in the medial wall of the orbit. It then enters the ethmoid bone, supplying the posterior ethmoidal air cells. The artery also contributes to the blood supply of the dura mater in the anterior cranial fossa.

Branches

The posterior ethmoidal artery gives off small branches that supply the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity, particularly the superior and middle nasal conchae.

Function

The primary function of the posterior ethmoidal artery is to provide oxygenated blood to the structures within the ethmoid bone and parts of the nasal cavity. This is crucial for maintaining the health of the mucous membranes and the air cells within the ethmoid bone.

Clinical Significance

In surgical procedures involving the sinuses or the orbit, the posterior ethmoidal artery is an important landmark. Damage to this artery can lead to complications such as epistaxis (nosebleeds) or orbital hematoma.

Related Pages

• Ophthalmic artery
• Ethmoid bone
• Nasal cavity
• Internal carotid artery