Anatomy of the ophthalmic artery

There are significant variations in the ophthalmic artery as regard its origin, course and branches. The origin of the ophthalmic artery is from the internal carotid artery in the most of cases and from medial third of the superior wall of its supraclinoid segment. So it should be put in mind when performing endonasal operations and during hypophyseal area approach that injury the ophthalmic artery may occur. There are very wide variations in the order and sites of origin of the branches of the ophthalmic artery. As there are no two ophthalmic arteries have identical branching patterns. Anastomosis between branches of the ophthalmic artery and branches of the external carotid artery supplies additional potential source of collateralization.

Autorentext

Amira Hamed Mohamed El-TrawyMBBCh, University of AlexandriaMaster of Human Anatomy and Embryology,PHD of Human Anatomy and Embryology, University of Alexandria