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 form anastomoses with arteries of the head.

Supraorbital artery
The ophthalmic artery and its branches. (Supraorbital artery labeled at center top.)
The tarsi and their ligaments. Right eye; front view. (Supraorbital vessels labeled at upper right.)
Details
Source	Ophthalmic artery
Branches	Superficial branch deep branch
Vein	Supraorbital vein
Supplies	Levator palpebrae superioris diploë of the frontal bone frontal sinus upper eyelid skin of the forehead scalp
Identifiers
Latin	arteria supraorbitalis
TA98	A12.2.06.037
TA2	4486
FMA	49973
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

Structure

Origin

The supraorbital artery arises from the ophthalmic artery.^[1][2]

Course and relations

It travels anteriorly in the orbit by passing superior to the eye and medial to the superior rectus and levator palpebrae superioris.^{[citation needed]} 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.^[3] After passing through the supraorbital foramen or notch, it often splits into a superficial branch and a deep branch.^[1]

Distribution

The supraorbital artery contributes arterial supply to: the superior rectus muscle, superior oblique muscle, levator palpebrae muscles, periorbita,^[1] the diploë of the frontal bone, frontal sinus, upper eyelid,^{[citation needed]} and the skin and musculature of the forehead and scalp.^[1]

Anastomoses

Its terminal branches anastomose with the supratrochlear artery, frontal branch of superficial temporal artery, and the contralateral supraorbital artery.^[1]

Variation

This artery may be absent in 10% to 20% of individuals.^[4]

Additional images

• 
  The arteries of the face and scalp.
• 
  Bloodvessels of the eyelids, front view.
• 
  supraorbital artery

References

1. Remington, Lee Ann (2012). "Orbital Blood Supply". Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of the Visual System. Elsevier. pp. 202–217. doi:10.1016/b978-1-4377-1926-0.10011-6. ISBN 978-1-4377-1926-0.
2. Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 659.
3. Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 659.
4. Dutton JJ: Osteology of the orbit. In Atlas of clinical and surgical orbital anatomy, Philadelphia, 1994, WB Saunders