| Infraorbital artery | |
|---|---|
 Plan of branches ofinternal maxillary artery. (Infraorbital at far right.) | |
 Leftorbicularis oculi, seen from behind. (Infraorbital labeled at lower left.) | |
| Details | |
| Source | Maxillary artery |
| Branches | Orbital branches anterior superior alveolar arteries |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | arteria infraorbitalis |
| TA98 | A12.2.05.078 |
| TA2 | 4447 |
| FMA | 49767 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Theinfraorbital artery is a small[1]artery in the head that arises from themaxillary artery and passes through theinferior orbital fissure to enter theorbit, then passes forward along the floor of the orbit, finally exiting the orbit through theinfraorbital foramen to reach the face.
The infraorbital artery arises from themaxillary artery; it often arises in conjunction with theposterior superior alveolar artery.[2] It may be considered a continuation of the third part of the maxillary artery[1] and continues the direction of the maxillary artery.[citation needed]
It passes anterior-ward to enter theorbit through theinferior orbital fissure.[2] In the orbit,[2][1] it courses along the floor of the orbit[1] with theinfraorbital nerve first along theinfraorbital groove and then theinfraorbital canal.[2] It exits the orbit (with theinfraorbital nerve) throughinfraorbital foramen to reach the face,[1] beneath the infraorbital head of thelevator labii superioris muscle.[citation needed]
While in the canal, it gives off:[citation needed]
On the face, some branches pass upward to the medial angle of the orbit and the lacrimal sac, anastomosing with theangular artery, a branch of thefacial artery; others run toward the nose, anastomosing with the dorsal nasal branch of theophthalmic artery; and others descend between thelevator labii superioris and thelevator anguli oris, and anastomose with thefacial artery,transverse facial artery, andbuccal artery.[citation needed]
The four remaining branches arise from that portion of the maxillary artery which is contained in thepterygopalatine fossa.[citation needed]
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This article incorporates text in thepublic domain frompage 562 of the 20th edition ofGray's Anatomy(1918)
