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| Ophthalmic artery | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ophthalmic artery |
| Latin | Arteria ophthalmica |
| System | Head and neck |
| Branchfrom | Internal carotid artery |
| Supplies | Eye, orbit, lacrimal gland, nasal cavity |
Ophthalmic artery The ophthalmic artery is a critical paired vessel supplying the orbit and adjacent structures. It arises intracranially and enters the orbit, providing branches to the globe, eyelids, lacrimal apparatus, and surrounding bones. Its anatomy is important in neurosurgery, ophthalmology, and interventional radiology for disorders involving the eye, skull base, and cerebral circulation.
The vessel courses from the cavernous portion of the Internal carotid artery region toward the Superior orbital fissure and Optic canal before entering the orbit adjacent to the Optic nerve; its relations include the Cavernous sinus, Pituitary gland, and sphenoidal landmarks like the Sphenoid bone. Surrounding arterial networks connect with branches from the External carotid artery such as the Facial artery and Maxillary artery via anastomoses that involve the Infraorbital artery and Transverse facial artery, creating collateral pathways relevant in conditions described by clinicians at institutions like Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins Hospital. Anatomical studies referencing dissections at universities such as Harvard Medical School and Stanford University School of Medicine have mapped perioptic relationships relevant to surgical corridors used in procedures developed at centers like Mount Sinai Hospital and Cleveland Clinic.
Typically originating as the first intracranial branch of the Internal carotid artery after it emerges from the Cervical segment into the cranial vault, the artery travels inferolaterally around the Cavernous sinus to enter the orbit through the Optic canal alongside the Optic nerve. Its origin and initial bend are landmarks for neurosurgeons performing approaches described in texts from Royal College of Surgeons curricula and guidelines from professional societies including the American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Variations in origin have been documented in anatomical surveys by researchers affiliated with institutions like University of Oxford and University of Cambridge.
Major named branches arising within and near the orbit include the central retinal artery, lacrimal artery, posterior ciliary arteries (short and long), supraorbital artery, ethmoidal arteries (anterior and posterior), medial palpebral arteries, and dorsal nasal artery. These branches communicate with branches of the External carotid artery such as the Superior labial artery and Angular artery, a relationship emphasized in surgical atlases from Guy's Hospital and interventional literature from Karolinska Institutet. Classic anatomical monographs by authors associated with Oxford University Press record the variability and nomenclature used in textbooks at Imperial College London.
The artery supplies the retina via the Central retinal artery, the uveal tract via posterior ciliary arteries, the lacrimal gland via the Lacrimal artery, eyelids via palpebral branches, and the nasal mucosa via the ethmoidal and dorsal nasal branches communicating with branches of the Facial artery. Its territories overlap with vascular fields served by the Maxillary artery and Superficial temporal artery in periocular and facial regions, a consideration in reconstructive surgery practices at centers like Royal Free Hospital and Johns Hopkins Hospital. Detailed maps of orbital perfusion appear in atlases used at institutions such as Massachusetts General Hospital.
Documented anatomical variants include origin from the anterior cerebral artery, middle cerebral artery, or as a duplicated stem; absent or hypoplastic branches such as a small central retinal artery; and anomalous anastomoses with the External carotid artery system including the Maxillary artery and Facial artery. Population studies from medical schools like University of Tokyo and Seoul National University report ethnic and developmental patterns, while embryological explanations reference vascular remodeling events studied at research centers such as National Institutes of Health and Institut Pasteur.
Occlusion or embolism of the central retinal artery causes acute monocular vision loss often managed emergently in clinics like Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Wills Eye Hospital. Orbital apex syndrome and ischemic optic neuropathy involve compromise of branches and are discussed in consensus statements from the American Academy of Neurology and European Academy of Neurology. Trauma to the artery or its branches can occur in orbital fractures, endoscopic sinus surgery involving the Ethmoid sinuses, and skull base procedures for tumors treated at specialized centers such as MD Anderson Cancer Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Iatrogenic retinal ischemia has been reported after cosmetic injections involving vessels that anastomose with branches connecting to the ophthalmic arterial system; regulatory advisories from agencies like the Food and Drug Administration highlight safety implications.
Imaging modalities including digital subtraction angiography, computed tomography angiography, and magnetic resonance angiography performed at tertiary centers like Cleveland Clinic and Royal Victoria Hospital delineate the artery for preoperative planning in aneurysm clipping, microvascular decompression, and orbital tumor resection described in textbooks from Elsevier and Springer Nature. Endovascular access to branches for embolization of vascular lesions requires knowledge of anastomotic channels with the External carotid artery to avoid retinal ischemia, a risk emphasized in guidelines from the Society of Interventional Radiology and the European Society of Neuroradiology. Surgical approaches via the Transcranial route, Endoscopic endonasal approach, or orbital decompression employ anatomical landmarks taught in training programs at UCLA Medical Center and Yale New Haven Hospital.
Category:Arteries of the head and neck