Ophthalmic artery

Last revised by Frank Gaillard on 16 Jul 2023

The ophthalmic artery is a branch of the supraclinoid (C6) segment of the internal carotid artery.

Gross anatomy

Origin

The ophthalmic artery arises medial to the anterior clinoid process as the internal carotid artery exits the cavernous sinus. It originates from the antero- or supero-medial surface of the internal carotid artery.

Course

The ophthalmic artery passes into the orbit via the optic canal. It has numerous branches which are often grouped into those that supply the orbital content and those that supply the globe and related structures.

Termination

The two terminal branches of the ophthalmic artery are the supratrochlear artery and the dorsal nasal artery.

Branches
Orbital group
Ocular group

A useful mnemonic to remember the branches of the ophthalmic artery is:

Variant anatomy

Embryologically, the orbit has dual supply: from the supraorbital branch (which later becomes the middle meningeal artery) and from the ophthalmic artery. As a result there can be substantial variation 1-2:

These variants are important to recognize during endovascular thereapy. For example, embolization of a tumor supplied by the external carotid artery (e.g. meningioma or hemangiopericytoma) can result in blindness.

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