The supraorbital artery is a branch of the

ophthalmic artery The ophthalmic artery (OA) is an artery of the head. It is the first branch of the internal carotid artery distal to the cavernous sinus. Branches of the ophthalmic artery supply all the structures in the orbit around the eye, as well as some s ...

. It passes anteriorly within the orbit to exit the orbit through the supraorbital foramen or notch alongside the supraorbital nerve, splitting into two terminal branches which go on to form anastomoses with arteries of the head.

Structure

Origin

The supraorbital artery arises from the ophthalmic artery.

Course and relations

It travels anteriorly in the orbit by passing superior to the eye and medial to the

superior rectus The superior rectus muscle is a muscle in the orbit. It is one of the extraocular muscles. It is innervated by the superior division of the oculomotor nerve (III). In the primary position (looking straight ahead), its primary function is elevation ...

and

levator palpebrae superioris The levator palpebrae superioris ( la, elevating muscle of upper eyelid) is the muscle in the orbit that elevates the upper eyelid. Structure The levator palpebrae superioris originates from inferior surface of the lesser wing of the sphenoid bo ...

. It then joins the supraorbital nerve to jointly pass between the periosteum of the roof of the orbit and the levator palpebrae superioris towards the supraorbital foramen or notch. After passing through the supraorbital foramen or notch, it often splits into a superficial branch and a deep branch.

Distribution

The supraorbital artery contributes arterial supply to: the superior rectus muscle,

superior oblique muscle The superior oblique muscle, or obliquus oculi superior, is a fusiform muscle originating in the upper, medial side of the orbit (i.e. from beside the nose) which abducts, depresses and internally rotates the eye. It is the only extraocular mu ...

levator palpebrae The levator palpebrae superioris ( la, elevating muscle of upper eyelid) is the muscle in the orbit that elevates the upper eyelid. Structure The levator palpebrae superioris originates from inferior surface of the lesser wing of the sphenoid bon ...

muscles,

periorbita The periorbita is the area around the orbit. Sometimes it refers specifically to the layer of tissue surrounding the orbit that consists of periosteum. However, it may refer to anything that is around the orbit, such as in periorbital cellulitis ...

, the diploë of the

frontal bone The frontal bone is a bone in the human skull. The bone consists of two portions.'' Gray's Anatomy'' (1918) These are the vertically oriented squamous part, and the horizontally oriented orbital part, making up the bony part of the forehead, pa ...

frontal sinus The frontal sinuses are one of the four pairs of paranasal sinuses that are situated behind the brow ridges. Sinuses are mucosa-lined airspaces within the bones of the face and skull. Each opens into the anterior part of the corresponding middle ...

, upper

eyelid An eyelid is a thin fold of skin that covers and protects an eye. The levator palpebrae superioris muscle retracts the eyelid, exposing the cornea to the outside, giving vision. This can be either voluntarily or involuntarily. The human eye ...

, and the skin and musculature of the forehead and

scalp The scalp is the anatomical area bordered by the human face at the front, and by the neck at the sides and back. Structure The scalp is usually described as having five layers, which can conveniently be remembered as a mnemonic: * S: The ski ...

Anastomoses

Its terminal branches anastomose with the supratrochlear artery, frontal branch of

superficial temporal artery In human anatomy, the superficial temporal artery is a major artery of the head. It arises from the external carotid artery when it splits into the superficial temporal artery and maxillary artery. Its pulse can be felt above the zygomatic a ...

, and the contralateral supraorbital artery.

Variation

This artery may be absent in 10% to 20% of individuals.Dutton JJ: Osteology of the orbit. In ''Atlas of clinical and surgical orbital anatomy,'' Philadelphia, 1994, WB Saunders

Additional images

File:Gray508.png, The arteries of the face and scalp. File:Gray515.png, Bloodvessels of the eyelids, front view. File:Slide3h.JPG, supraorbital artery

References

{{Authority control Arteries of the head and neck