Artery of the pterygoid canal

Artery of the pterygoid canal
Plan of branches of the maxillary artery
(artery of the pterygoid canal visible at upper right)
Details
PrecursorAortic arch 1
SourceMaxillary artery
Identifiers
Latinarteria canalis pterygoidei
TA98A12.2.05.082
A12.2.06.006
TA24454
FMA85528
Anatomical terminology

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

It usually arises from the external carotid artery,[1] but can arise from either the internal or external carotid artery or serve as an anastomosis between the two.[2]

The eponym, Vidian artery, is derived from the Italian surgeon and anatomist Vidus Vidius.[3]

From external carotid artery

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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 tympanic arteries.

It can end in the oropharynx.[4]

From internal carotid artery

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In this case; the artery passes inferiorly through foramen lacerum towards the oropharynx, with its main trunk continuing anteriorly through the pterygoid canal to anastomose with the pterygopalatine part of the maxillary artery.[5] The artery is small and inconstant, passing through the pterygoid canal in an opposite direction to its corresponding nerve.

See also

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References

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Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 568 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. ^ "Medscape". Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  2. ^ "NMC : Vol. 45 (2005), No. 9 470-471". Retrieved 2008-03-13.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Tubbs RS, Salter EG (2006). "Vidius Vidius (Guido Guidi): 1509-1569". Neurosurgery. 59 (1): 201–3, discussion 201–3. doi:10.1227/01.NEU.0000219238.52858.47. PMID 16823317.
  4. ^ "vidian artery". Archived from the original on 2009-05-30. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  5. ^ Osborn, A. G. (August 1980). "The vidian artery: normal and pathologic anatomy". Radiology. 136 (2): 373–378. doi:10.1148/radiology.136.2.7403513. ISSN 0033-8419. PMID 7403513.
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