Anatomic and Embryologic Analysis of the Dural Branches of the Ophthalmic Artery.

S. Bonasia,T. Robert,S. Smajda,G. Ciccio

doi:10.3174/ajnr.a6939

Abstract

The ophthalmic artery has one of the most fascinating embryologic developments among the craniofacial arteries. Most of the ophthalmic artery orbital branches develop from the formation and regression of the stapedial artery and share their origin with dural branches of the ophthalmic artery. The concomitant embryologic development of the ophthalmic artery and middle meningeal artery explains adequately the important varieties of anastomosis between these 2 arteries. It also explains the presence of many dural branches from the ophthalmic artery. In this review, we focused on dural branches of the ophthalmic artery with the description of rare variations possible, in particular the ophthalmic artery origin of the middle meningeal artery and the ophthalmic artery origin of the marginal tentorial artery.

Highlights

The superficial recurrent ophthalmic artery is a meningeal branch that takes its origin from the proximal part of the lacrimal artery or directly from the second segment of the OA.[9,11,15]
The anterior ethmoidal artery is a more constant artery, which has been found in .90% of the orbits if the OA crosses over the optic nerve, and in 80% of cases when the OA crosses under the nerve
Clinical Implications The knowledge of the dural branches arising from the OA and their variations represents the cornerstone for interventional neuroradiologists and neurosurgeons who treat anterior and middle cranial fossa pathologies

Summary

Introduction

The superficial recurrent ophthalmic artery is a meningeal branch that takes its origin from the proximal part of the lacrimal artery or directly from the second segment of the OA.[9,11,15] This artery passes through the lateral part of the superior orbital fissure to reach the dura over the anterior clinoid process and the cavernous sinus roof.[3,16] The superficial recurrent ophthalmic artery supplies the intradural part of the third and fourth cranial nerves. Dural Supply of the OA The 4 meningeal branches previously described supply the dura of the cribriform plate: the planum, the anterior clinoid process, the superior orbital region, the roof and the lateral part of the cavernous sinus, the medial part of the orbital roof, and the anterior part of the falx cerebri.

Results

Conclusion