Divided maxillary artery in relation to the lateral pterygoid muscle
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Electronic versions
DOI
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.
Keywords
- Aged, Anatomic Variation, Cadaver, Female, Humans, Maxillary Artery/anatomy & histology, Pterygoid Muscles/blood supply, Pterygopalatine Fossa/blood supply
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 207-10 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Anatomical science international |
| Volume | 91 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 16 Jun 2015 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2016 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Research outputs (1)
- Published
Meridians Under the Skin
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review