Long posterior ciliary arteries

Last revised by Calum Worsley on 20 Jul 2023

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Gaillard F, Worsley C, Long posterior ciliary arteries. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 27 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-171998

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-171998

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/171998

rID:

171998

Article created:

16 Jul 2023, Frank Gaillard ◉ ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had the following disclosures:

Biogen Australia Pty Ltd, Investigator-Initiated Research Grant for CAD software in multiple sclerosis: finished Oct 2021 (past)

These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.

View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures

Last revised:

20 Jul 2023, Calum Worsley ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Calum Worsley had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Calum Worsley's current disclosures

Revisions:

2 times, by 2 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Vascular, Central Nervous System, Head & Neck

Sections:

Anatomy

The long posterior ciliary arteries are branches of the posterior ciliary arteries which are in turn branches of the ophthalmic artery. They supply the anterior part of the choroid of the ocular globe as well as the iris and ciliary muscle^1,2.

Each eye has a number of long ciliary arteries. The most posterior, typically one on either side of the optic nerve (nasal and temporal) are located 3 to 4 mm lateral to the optic nerve insertion, and lateral to the more numerous short posterior ciliary arteries ^1,2. Additional long posterior ciliary arteries are also variably present penetrating the sclera more anteriorly.

These arteries then course superficial (external) to the choroid through the suprachoroid before terminating as branches supplying the iris and ciliary body.