Sphenopalatine artery
Encyclopedia
The sphenopalatine artery (nasopalatine artery) is an artery
of the head, commonly known as the artery of epistaxis.
into the cavity of the nose
, at the back part of the superior meatus
. Here it gives off its posterior lateral nasal branches.
Crossing the under surface of the sphenoid, the sphenopalatine artery ends on the nasal septum
as the posterior septal branches. Here it will anastomose with the branches of the greater palatine artery
.
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, commonly known as the artery of epistaxis.
Course
The sphenopalatine artery is a branch of the maxillary artery which passes through the sphenopalatine foramenSphenopalatine foramen
The sphenopalatine foramen is a foramen in the skull that connects the nasal cavity with the pterygopalatine fossa.-Structure:The processes of the superior border of the palatine bone are separated by the sphenopalatine notch, which is converted into the sphenopalatine foramen by the under surface...
into the cavity of the nose
Human nose
The 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...
, at the back part of the superior meatus
Superior meatus
The superior meatus, the smallest of the three meatuses of the nose, occupies the middle third of the lateral wall of the nasal cavity.It lies between the superior nasal conchæ and middle nasal conchæ; the sphenopalatine foramen opens into it behind, and the posterior ethmoidal cells in front.The...
. Here it gives off its posterior lateral nasal branches.
Crossing the under surface of the sphenoid, the sphenopalatine artery ends on the nasal septum
Nasal septum
The nasal septum separates the left and right airways in the nose, dividing the two nostrils.It is depressed by the Depressor septi nasi muscle.-Composition:The fleshy external end of the nasal septum is sometimes also called columella....
as the posterior septal branches. Here it will anastomose with the branches of the greater palatine artery
Greater palatine artery
The greater palatine artery is a terminal branch of the maxillary artery supplying blood to the hard palate and nasal septum.-Course:The descending palatine artery branches off of the maxillary artery in the pterygopalatine fossa and descends through the greater palatine canal along with the...
.