The Ascending Pharyngeal Artery, Accessory Meningeal Artery, Lingual Artery, Vasa Nervorum, and Potential Anastomotic Channels

Abstract

The ascending pharyngeal, accessory meningeal, and lingual arteries branch from the proximal segment of the external carotid artery. These branches give rise to smaller branches that contribute blood supply to the pharyngeal mucosa, parapharyngeal tissue, middle ear, submandibular tissues, tongue, and dura mater of the middle and posterior fossa. These arteries may also supply the cranial nerves and have potential anastomotic channels that function with the internal carotid and vertebral arteries. M igration of embolic material into the vasa nervorum and potential anastomoses may cause complications. Therefore, knowledge of these functional anatomies is crucial for neuro-interventionalists.