The inferior hypophysial artery is an artery in the head. It is a branch of the

cavernous carotid artery The internal carotid artery (Latin: arteria carotis interna) is an artery in the neck which supplies the anterior circulation of the brain. In human anatomy, the internal and external carotids arise from the common carotid arteries, where these b ...

, itself from the

internal carotid artery The internal carotid artery (Latin: arteria carotis interna) is an artery in the neck which supplies the anterior circulation of the brain. In human anatomy, the internal and external carotids arise from the common carotid arteries, where these b ...

. It supplies the posterior pituitary of the pituitary gland.

Structure

The inferior hypophysial artery is a branch of the

, itself from the

. Alternatively, it may arise from the

meningohypophyseal artery The meningohypophyseal artery, or meningohypophyseal trunk, is an inconstant branch of the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery. Classically, the meningohypophyseal artery has three named branches: #Dorsal meningeal artery #Inferior hyp ...

. It passes across the middle of the cavernous sinus. It reaches the lateral surface of the posterior pituitary. It merges with the other inferior hypophysial artery. The inferior hypophysial artery may give off the medial clival artery.

Function

The inferior hypophysial artery supplies the pituitary gland, specifically the posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis). It is important for distributing vasopressin into the bloodstream.

History

The inferior hypophysial artery was first identified in 1860 by

Hubert von Luschka Hubert is a Germanic masculine given name, from ''hug'' "mind" and ''beraht'' "bright". It also occurs as a surname. Saint Hubertus or Hubert (c. 656 – 30 May 727) is the patron saint of hunters, mathematicians, opticians, and metalworkers. ...

References

{{Authority control Arteries of the head and neck