Maxillary Artery Anatomy

The main trunk of the maxillary artery:
- Is divided into three parts:
  - Which are named according to related structures along the artery’s course
- These three parts are:
  - The mandibular division (1st part / bony part):
    - Named as such because it winds around deep to the neck of the mandible
  - The pterygoid division (2nd part / muscular part):
    - It has this name because it travels between the two heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle
  - The pterygopalatine division (3rd part):
    - This part derived its name from the pterygopalatine fossa, into which it enters
- Conventionally, these three parts are described as the:
  - Part before-, part on-, and part beyond the lateral pterygoid muscle
  - This is also useful since out of the 15 branches of the maxillary artery:
    - The five branches from the second part (part on the lateral pterygoid muscle):
      - Are regarded as branches to soft tissues:
        
        That do not course through foramina in bones
    - However, the remaining 10 branches:
      - From the first and third parts:
        
        Go through foramina in bones
Course:
- The maxillary artery:
  - Continues as one of the terminal divisions of the external carotid artery:
    - At the level of the neck of the mandible:
      - Passing forward between the neck of the mandible and the sphenomandibular ligament
    - It continues its path by running deeply to the lower head and passes forward between the two heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle:
      - To break into its terminal branches at the pterygopalatine fossa

Maxillary artery branches:
- Branches of the first (mandibular) division:
  - The deep auricular artery:
    - Is the first branch of the mandibular part:
      - This branch runs upwards to enter the ear and courses superficially to the tympanic membrane, passing between the cartilage and bone
    - It supplies the external acoustic meatus of the ear and the deep surface of the tympanic membrane
    - The anterior tympanic artery:
      - Is the second branch that courses near the tympanic membrane
      - It passes deep to the membrane:
        
        Through the petrotympanic fissure to the middle ear:
        
        To join the circular anastomosis around the tympanic membrane
    - The middle meningeal artery:
      - Passes straight upwards through the foramen spinosum:
        
        To join the two roots of the auriculotemporal nerve
      - It supplies bones of the skull (calvaria) and the dura mater
    - The inferior alveolar artery:
      - Runs inferiorly and anteriorly towards the inferior alveolar nerve:
        
        To meet the nerve at the inferior alveolar (a.k.a. mandibular) foramen
      - The artery runs further anteriorly in the mandible:
        
        Supplying the pulps of the mandibular teeth (with its dental branches) and the body of the mandible
      - Its other branch, the mental branch:
        
        Emerges from the mental foramen and supplies the lower lip and skin of the chin
    - The accessory meningeal artery:
      - Is the main source of blood supply to the trigeminal ganglion
      - It passes upwards through the foramen ovale to supply the dura mater of the floor of the middle fossa and of the trigeminal cave (Meckel’s cave)
- Branches from the 2nd (pterygoid / muscular) segment:
  - All branches from the pterygoid part supply only soft tissues
  - The masseteric artery:
    - Accompanies the lingual nerve
    - It is small, and passes laterally through the mandibular notch to the deep surface of the masseter muscle
  - The pterygoid arteries:
    - Are small branches that vary in number
    - They supply the lateral pterygoid muscle and medial pterygoid muscle
  - The deep temporal arteries:
    - Course between the temporalis muscle and the pericranium
    - The main function of this branch is to:
      - Provide arterial supply to the temporalis muscle
  - The buccal (buccinator) artery:
    - Runs obliquely forward, between the medial pterygoid muscle and the insertion of the temporalis muscle, to the outer surface of the buccinator muscle
    - It mainly supplies the:
      - Buccinator muscle
    - Along its course, it forms anastomoses with branches of the facial and infraorbital arteries
- Branches from the 3rd (pterygopalatine) segment:
  - The sphenopalatine artery:
    - Mainly supplies the nasal cavity:
      - Which is why it is also referred to as the nasopalatine artery
    - It passes through the sphenopalatine foramen and enters the nasal cavity
    - Here it gives off its posterior lateral nasal branches
    - Crossing the inferior surface of the sphenoid:
      - The sphenopalatine artery ends on the nasal septum giving off the posterior septal branches
  - The descending palatine artery:
    - Descends through the greater palatine canal:
      - With the greater and lesser palatine branches:
        
        Of the pterygopalatine ganglion
      - It terminates by dividing into the greater and lesser palatine arteries:
        
        That provide blood supply for the hard palate and soft palate, respectively
  - The infraorbital artery:
    - Passes forwards through the inferior orbital fissure:
      - Along the floor of the orbit and infraorbital canal:
        
        To emerge with the infraorbital nerve on the face.
  - The posterior superior alveolar artery:
    - Supplies the maxillary teeth
    - It gives branches that accompany the corresponding nerves through foramina in the posterior wall of the maxilla
  - The middle superior alveolar artery:
    - Is most often a branch of the infraorbital artery
    - It arises within the infraorbital canal:
      - Where it descends to supply the maxillary sinus and plexus at the level of the canine tooth
  - The pharyngeal artery:
    - Supplies structures such as the pharynx and roof of the nose
  - The anterior superior alveolar artery:
    - Is branch of the infraorbital artery.
  - The artery of the pterygoid canal:
    - Runs into the pterygoid canal:
      - It passes backwards along the pterygoid canal with the corresponding nerve
    - It supplies the upper part of the pharynx, and sends a small division into the tympanic cavity to anastomose with the tympanic arteries