Posterior ethmoidal artery

The posterior ethmoidal artery is an artery of the head which supplies the nasal septum. It is smaller than the anterior ethmoidal artery.

Posterior ethmoidal artery
The ophthalmic artery and its branches. (Anterior and posterior ethmoid labeled at left.)
Details
SourceOphthalmic artery
BranchesMeningeal branch
Nasal branches
VeinEthmoidal veins
SuppliesPosterior ethmoidal cells
Posterior ethmoidal air sinuses
Dura mater of the anterior cranial fossa
Upper part of the nasal mucosa
Identifiers
LatinArteria ethmoidalis posterior
TA98A12.2.06.043
TA24492
FMA49989
Anatomical terminology

Course

Once branching from the ophthalmic artery, it passes between the upper border of the medial rectus muscle and superior oblique muscle to enter the posterior ethmoidal canal. It exits into the nasal cavity to supply posterior ethmoidal cells and nasal septum; here it anastomoses with the sphenopalatine artery.

There is often a meningeal branch to the dura mater, while it is still contained within the cranium.

Supplies

This artery supplies the posterior ethmoidal air sinuses, the dura mater of the anterior cranial fossa, and the upper part of the nasal mucosa of the nasal septum.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 570 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

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