The supratrochlear artery (or frontal artery) is one of the terminal branches 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 arises within the

orbit In celestial mechanics, an orbit is the curved trajectory of an object such as the trajectory of a planet around a star, or of a natural satellite around a planet, or of an artificial satellite around an object or position in space such as ...

. It exits the orbit alongside the

supratrochlear nerve The supratrochlear nerve is a branch of the frontal nerve, itself a branch of the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1) from the trigeminal nerve (CN V). It provides sensory innervation to the skin of the forehead and the upper eyelid. Structure The supra ...

. It contributes arterial supply to the skin, muscles and pericranium of the forehead.

Anatomy

It branches from the ophthalmic artery near the

trochlea Trochlea (Latin for pulley) is a term in anatomy. It refers to a grooved structure reminiscent of a pulley's wheel. Related to joints Most commonly, trochleae bear the articular surface of saddle and other joints: * Trochlea of humerus (part of ...

of the

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 ...

in the

Origin

The supratrochlear artery branches from the ophthalmic artery in the

near the

of the

Course

After branching from the ophthalmic artery, it passes anteriorly through the superomedial orbit. It travels medial to the

trochlear nerve The trochlear nerve (), ( lit. ''pulley-like'' nerve) also known as the fourth cranial nerve, cranial nerve IV, or CN IV, is a cranial nerve that innervates just one muscle: the superior oblique muscle of the eye, which operates through the pu ...

. With the

, the supratrochlear artery exits the orbit through the supratrochlear notch (variably present), medial to the

supraorbital foramen The supraorbital foramen, is a bony elongated opening located above the orbit (eye socket) and under the forehead. It is part of the frontal bone of the skull. The supraorbital foramen lies directly under the eyebrow. In some people this foramen i ...

. It then ascends on the forehead.

Anastomoses

The supratrochlear artery anastomoses with the contralateral supratrochlear artery, and the ipsilateral

supraorbital artery The supraorbital artery is a branch of the ophthalmic artery. 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 f ...

Distribution

The supratrochlear artery supplies blood to the skin of the medial aspect of the forehead and scalp, as well as the underlying

pericranium The periosteum is a membrane that covers the outer surface of all bones, except at the articular surfaces (i.e. the parts within a joint space) of long bones. Endosteum lines the inner surface of the medullary cavity of all long bones. Structure ...

and

frontalis muscle The frontalis muscle () is a muscle which covers parts of the forehead of the skull. Some sources consider the frontalis muscle to be a distinct muscle. However, Terminologia Anatomica currently classifies it as part of the occipitofrontalis muscle ...

References

External links

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/supratrochlear-artery
{{Authority control Arteries of the head and neck