Maxillary Artery.pptx

MAXILLARY ARTERY

GENERAL FEATURES

from the external carotid artery (the larger of the 2 terminal branches) at the neck of the mandible within the substance of the parotid gland.

It is divided into 3 parts: • First part: it lies within the parotid gland; it passes deep to the neck of the mandible and along the lower border of the lateral pterygoid muscle. • Second part: it passes superficial to the lower head of lateral pterygoid muscle (may deep). • Third part: it passes between the two heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle to enter the pterygopalatine fossa, then it passes through the inferior orbital fissure, infra-orbital groove, infra-orbital canal and emerges from the infra-orbital foramen (infra-orbital artery).

BRANCHES

From the first part (M.I.A.D.A): 1- Middle meningeal artery: It enters the cranial cavity by passing through the foramen spinosum. It ends by dividing into the anterior and posterior branches.

The anterior branch grooves the inner surface of the greater wing of the sphenoid and crosses the pterion. The posterior branch runs upwards and backwards till the lambda. It supplies the dura. 2- Inferior alveolar artery: It enters the mandibular foramen with the inferior alveolar nerve.

It runs in the mandibular canal and ends by dividing into mental branch emerging from the mental foramen and incisive branch. The inferior alveolar artery supplies the mandible and the lower teeth. Before entering the mandibular foramen the inferior alveolar artery gives mylohyoid artery which descends in the mylohyoid groove with the mylohyoid nerve.

BRANCHES (CONT)

3-Accessory meningeal artery: It enters the cranial cavity by passing through the foramen ovale to supply the dura. 4- Deep auricular artery: It supplies the external auditory meatus and the ear drum 5- Anterior tympanic artery: It supplies the middle ear cavity

From the second part: Muscular branches to muscles of mastication.

BRANCHES (CONT)

From the third part 1- Posterior superior alveolar artery: It descends on the back of the maxilla where it divides into two or more branches, these branches enter the alveolar canals of the maxilla to supply the molars and premolars. 2- Greater palatine artery: It runs in the greater palatine canal to supply the hard palate. It gives 2-3 lesser palatine arteries to supply the soft palate and tonsils. 3- Spheno-palatine artery: to the nasal cavity 4- Pharyngeal branch: to the naso-pharynx. 5- Artery of pterygoid canal: to the naso-pharynx. From the infra - orbital artery: 1- Anterior superior alveolar: It supplies the upper incisors and canine teeth. 2- Orbital branches: to the orbit. 3- Terminal branches: palpebral, nasal and labial.