Inferolateral trunk

Last revised by Elvin Talishli on 19 Jan 2021

The inferolateral trunk, along with the meningohypophyseal trunk, is a branch of the C4 segment of the internal carotid artery. It is identified in up to 80% of dissection specimens but is less frequently seen on imaging.

It is also referred to as the artery to the inferior cavernous sinus, arising laterally from the cavernous segment and is directed inferiorly (thus inferolateral trunk).

The inferolateral trunk has three or four branches, as it passes between the trochlear nerve (CN IV) (below) and ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve (CN V) (above):

 

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