Quick Facts
Origin: Ophthalmic artery.
Course: Passes within the anterior ethmoidal canal and enters the anterior cranial fossa via the anterior ethmoidal foramen.
Branches: Anterior meningeal, anterior septal, and anterior lateral nasal branches.
Supplied Structures: Anterior ethmoidal cells, frontal sinus, dura mater, and nose.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The anterior ethmoidal artery arises from the ophthalmic artery as it passes anteromedially in the orbital cavity.
Course
The anterior ethmoidal artery passes medially a short distance and enters the anterior ethmoidal canal. It then exits the canal into the anterior cranial fossa via the anterior ethmoidal foramen, just at the anterior end of the lateral edge of the cribriform plate.
Branches
The anterior ethmoidal artery has ramifications that arise both in the anterior ethmoidal canal (extracranially) and after it emerges from the anterior ethmoidal foramen (intracranially).
Supplied Structures
The extracranial ramifications of the anterior ethmoidal artery supply the nasal cavity and septum, as well as the anterior ethmoidal cells and frontal sinus. The intracranial ramifications help supply the dura mater of the anterior cranial fossa.
References
Pamir, M. N., Black, P. M. L. & Fahlbusch, R. (2010) Meningiomas: A Comprehensive Text. Saunders/Elsevier.
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Anterior Ethmoidal Artery
The anterior ethmoid artery is an extension of the ophthalmic artery located in the orbit that extends through the anterior ethmoidal foramen along with the anterior ethmoidal nerve.
