Infraorbital artery
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Kang O, Glick Y, Hacking C, et al. Infraorbital artery. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 18 Feb 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-4667
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rID:
4667
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At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.
View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures
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At the time the article was last revised Andrew Murphy had no recorded disclosures.
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Synonyms:
- infraorbital arteries
- infra-orbital artery
The infraorbital artery is a branch of the third part of the maxillary artery. It runs through the inferior orbital fissure, orbit, infraorbital canal then the infraorbital foramen. Here it gives off the anterior superior alveolar artery which supplies the anterior teeth and the anterior part of the maxillary sinus.
It emerges from the infraorbital foramen onto the midface, where it supplies the lateral aspect of the nose, upper lip and the lower eyelid. It anastomoses with the transverse facial and buccal arteries and branches of the ophthalmic and facial arteries.
Summary
- origin: third part of the maxillary artery
- course: enters the orbit through the inferior orbital fissure, courses anteriorly along the floor of the orbit in the infraorbital groove and canal before emerging through the infraorbital foramen onto the face
- branches
- termination: anastomoses with the transverse facial and buccal arteries
Variant anatomy
- middle superior alveolar artery branch may be absent
References
- 1. Standring S (editor). Gray's Anatomy (39th edition). Churchill Livingstone. (2011) ISBN:0443066841. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
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Articles:
- Middle superior alveolar artery
- Anterior superior alveolar artery
- Maxillary sinus
- Buccinator artery
- Orbital apex
- Inferior orbital fissure
- Arterial supply of the head and neck
- Anterior lacrimal crest
- Branches of maxillary artery (mnemonic)
- Infraorbital groove
- Levator labii superioris alaeque nasalis muscle
- Infraorbital foramen
- Inferior orbital fissure contents (mnemonic)
- Levator anguli oris muscle
- Superior alveolar arteries
- Extraconal orbital compartment
- Maxillary artery
- Teeth
- Infraorbital canal
- Orbit
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