Artery of pterygoid canal

Artery of the pterygoid canal
Plan of branches of the maxillary artery (artery of the pterygoid canal visible at upper right)
Details
Source	Maxillary artery
Identifiers
Latin	arteria canalis pterygoidei
TA	A12.2.05.082
FMA	85528
Anatomical terminology []

The artery of the pterygoid canal (Vidian artery) is an artery in the pterygoid canal, in the head.

It usually arises from the external carotid artery, but can arise from either the internal or external carotid artery or serve as an anastomosis between the two.

The eponym, Vidian artery, is derived from the Italian surgeon and anatomist Vidus Vidius.

In this case; the artery passes backward along the pterygoid canal with the corresponding nerve. It is distributed to the upper part of the pharynx and to the auditory tube, sending into the tympanic cavity a small branch which anastomoses with the other .

It can end in the oropharynx.

In this case; the artery passes backward along the pterygoid canal with the corresponding nerve. It The artery is a small, inconstant branch which passes into the pterygoid canal and anastomoses with a pterygopalatine branch of the maxillary artery.

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)