Alveolar Blood Vessels

Anatomical Relations

The primary arteries to the teeth are derived from one of the terminal branches of the carotid artery, namely the maxillary artery. The teeth in the maxilla are supplied by branches from the superior alveolar artery, while lower teeth in the mandible are supplied by branches from the inferior alveolar arteries (Standring, 2016).

The maxilla is supplied by the posterior, middle and anterior superior alveolar arteries. The mandible and the mandibular molars and premolars are supplied by the inferior alveolar artery, which passes through the mandibular canal to reach these structures. As the inferior alveolar artery passes through the canal, it branches and enters minute holes at the apex of each root to supply the pulp. Branches of the inferior alveolar artery that travel through the root canal up to the pulp cavity are known as pulpal vessels (Standring, 2016).

Veins from the mandible, and specifically the mandibular first molar, drain into plexuses around the root apices or vessels in the interdental septa, and then into several inferior alveolar veins. The inferior alveolar veins can then drain into either the facial vein or the pterygoid venous plexus (Standring, 2016).

Function

Alveolar blood vessels supply and nourish the pulp of the tooth.

References

Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41 edn.: Elsevier Limited.