The artery of the pterygoid canal (Vidian artery) is an artery that can arise from the internal carotid (ICA) or external carotid (ECA), or serve as an anastomosis between these arteries.

It more commonly arises from the ECA.

The eponym derived from Vidus Vidius

Vidus Vidius

Vidus Vidius , born Guido Guidi, was an Italian surgeon and anatomist. His father was a physician and his mother was the daughter of the painter Domenico Ghirlandajo....

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From external carotid

The artery passes backward along the pterygoid canal with the corresponding nerve. It is distributed to the upper part of the pharynx and to the auditory tube, sending into the tympanic cavity a small branch which anastomoses with the other tympanic arteries.

It can end in the oropharynx

Oropharynx

The Oropharynx reaches from the Uvula to the level of the hyoid bone.It opens anteriorly, through the isthmus faucium, into the mouth, while in its lateral wall, between the two palatine arches, is the palatine tonsil....

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From Internal carotid

The artery is a small, inconstant branch which passes into the pterygoid canal

Pterygoid canal

The pterygoid canal is a passage in the skull leading from just anterior to the foramen lacerum in the middle cranial fossa to the pterygopalatine fossa.-Structure:...

 and anastomoses with a branch of the maxillary artery.

External links

• http://www.medcyclopaedia.com/library/topics/volume_ii/v/vidian_artery.aspx