Posterior ethmoidal artery

Posterior ethmoidal artery
The ophthalmic artery and its branches. (Anterior and posterior ethmoid labeled at left.)
Details
Source	Ophthalmic artery
Branches	Meningeal branch Nasal branches
Vein	Ethmoidal veins
Supplies	Posterior ethmoidal cells Posterior ethmoidal air sinuses Dura mater of the anterior cranial fossa Upper part of the nasal mucosa
Identifiers
Latin	Arteria ethmoidalis posterior
Dorlands /Elsevier	a_61/12154258
TA	A12.2.06.043
FMA	49989
Anatomical terminology []

The posterior ethmoidal artery is an artery of the head which supplies the nasal septum. It is smaller than the anterior ethmoidal artery.

Once branching from the ophthalmic artery, it passes between the upper border of the medial rectus muscle and superior oblique muscle to enter the posterior ethmoidal canal. It exits into the nasal cavity to supply posterior ethmoidal cells and nasal septum; here it anastomoses with the sphenopalatine artery.

There is often a meningeal branch to the dura mater while it is still contained within the cranium.

This artery supplies the posterior ethmoidal air sinuses, dura mater of the anterior cranial fossa, and the upper part of the nasal mucosa of the nasal septum.

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