| Supraorbital artery | |
|---|---|
 Theophthalmic artery and its branches. (Supraorbital artery labeled at center top.) | |
 The tarsi and their ligaments. Right eye; front view. (Supraorbital vessels labeled at upper right.) | |
| Details | |
| Source | Ophthalmic artery |
| Branches | Superficial branch deep branch |
| Vein | Supraorbital vein |
| Supplies | Levator palpebrae superioris diploë of thefrontal bone frontal sinus uppereyelid skin of theforehead scalp |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | arteria supraorbitalis |
| TA98 | A12.2.06.037 |
| TA2 | 4486 |
| FMA | 49973 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Thesupraorbital artery is a branch of theophthalmic artery. It passes anteriorly within the orbit to exit the orbit through thesupraorbital foramen or notch alongside thesupraorbital nerve, splitting into two terminal branches which go on to form anastomoses with arteries of the head.
The supraorbital artery arises from the ophthalmic artery.[1][2]
It travels anteriorly in the orbit by passing superior to the eye and medial to thesuperior rectus andlevator palpebrae superioris.[citation needed] It then joins the supraorbital nerve to jointly pass between the periosteum of the roof of the orbit and the levator palpebrae superioris towards thesupraorbital foramen or notch.[3] After passing through thesupraorbital foramen or notch, it often splits into a superficial branch and a deep branch.[1]
The supraorbital artery contributes arterial supply to: thesuperior rectus muscle,superior oblique muscle,levator palpebrae muscles,periorbita,[1] thediploë of thefrontal bone,frontal sinus, uppereyelid,[citation needed] and the skin and musculature of theforehead andscalp.[1]
Its terminal branches anastomose with thesupratrochlear artery, frontal branch ofsuperficial temporal artery, and the contralateral supraorbital artery.[1]
This artery may be absent in 10% to 20% of individuals.[4]
