Dorsal nasal artery
Encyclopedia
The dorsal nasal artery (nasal artery) is an artery
of the head. It is one of the two terminal branches of the ophthalmic artery
.
above the medial palpebral ligament
, and, after giving a twig to the upper part of the lacrimal sac
, divides into two branches.
Artery
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. This blood is normally oxygenated, exceptions made for the pulmonary and umbilical arteries....
of the head. It is one of the two terminal branches of the ophthalmic artery
Ophthalmic artery
The ophthalmic artery is the first branch of the internal carotid artery distal to the cavernous sinus. Branches of the OA supply all the structures in the orbit as well as some structures in the nose, face and meninges...
.
Course
It emerges from the orbitOrbit (anatomy)
In anatomy, the orbit is the cavity or socket of the skull in which the eye and its appendages are situated. "Orbit" can refer to the bony socket, or it can also be used to imply the contents...
above the medial palpebral ligament
Medial palpebral ligament
The medial palpebral ligament , about 4 mm. in length and 2 mm. in breadth, is attached to the frontal process of the maxilla in front of the lacrimal groove....
, and, after giving a twig to the upper part of the lacrimal sac
Lacrimal sac
The lacrimal sac is the upper dilated end of the nasolacrimal duct, and is lodged in a deep groove formed by the lacrimal bone and frontal process of the maxilla...
, divides into two branches.
- One of these crosses the root of the noseHuman noseThe visible part of the human nose is the protruding part of the face that bears the nostrils. The shape of the nose is determined by the ethmoid bone and the nasal septum, which consists mostly of cartilage and which separates the nostrils...
, and anastomoses with the angular arteryAngular arteryThe angular artery is the terminal part of the facial artery; it ascends to the medial angle of the eye's orbit, imbedded in the fibers of the angular head of the Quadratus labii superioris, and accompanied by the angular vein....
. - The other runs along the dorsum of the nose, supplying its outer surface, and anastomoses with its fellow artery of the opposite side, and with the lateral nasal branch of the facial arteryFacial arteryThe facial artery is a branch of the external carotid artery that supplies structures of the superficial face.-Structure:...
.