TY - JOUR

T1 - Divided maxillary artery in relation to the lateral pterygoid muscle

AU - Aland, R Claire

AU - Shaw, Vivien

PY - 2016/3

Y1 - 2016/3

N2 - We describe an anatomical variation of the right maxillary artery. The variation loops deep, giving off a middle meningeal artery with an extremely short extracranial segment, then bifurcates into unequal branches. The smaller branch passes superficial to the lateral pterygoid head and distributes primarily to the masticatory muscles. The larger partially pierces the lateral pterygoid lower head, re-emerges superficially, branches again and passes into the pterygopalatine fossa. The larger lies superficial to the lingual and inferior alveolar nerves and deep to the buccal nerve. An embryonic development origin of the cranial arteries is suggested.

AB - We describe an anatomical variation of the right maxillary artery. The variation loops deep, giving off a middle meningeal artery with an extremely short extracranial segment, then bifurcates into unequal branches. The smaller branch passes superficial to the lateral pterygoid head and distributes primarily to the masticatory muscles. The larger partially pierces the lateral pterygoid lower head, re-emerges superficially, branches again and passes into the pterygopalatine fossa. The larger lies superficial to the lingual and inferior alveolar nerves and deep to the buccal nerve. An embryonic development origin of the cranial arteries is suggested.

KW - Aged

KW - Anatomic Variation

KW - Cadaver

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Maxillary Artery/anatomy & histology

KW - Pterygoid Muscles/blood supply

KW - Pterygopalatine Fossa/blood supply

U2 - 10.1007/s12565-015-0289-7

DO - 10.1007/s12565-015-0289-7

M3 - Article

C2 - 26077959

VL - 91

SP - 207

EP - 210

JO - Anatomical science international

JF - Anatomical science international

SN - 1447-073X

IS - 2

ER -