Clinical considerations of the glandular branch of the lacrimal artery

Abstract

The lacrimal artery is classically described as a branch of the ophthalmic artery supplied by the internal carotid. In this study, 25 orbits were dissected to identify variations in glandular branching and to compare them to previously published accounts. The glandular branching patterns of the lacrimal artery fall into two categories, those that branch (56%) and those that do not branch (44%). We found the medial and lateral glandular branches to be equal in diameter with a divergence of 2.67-40.58 mm proximal to the gland parenchyma. The long glandular branches run alongside the superolateral aspect of the orbit. The lateral branch runs lateral to the lateral rectus muscle. The medial branch runs superomedial to the lateral rectus muscle and lateral to the superior rectus muscle. In relation to the lacrimal gland, the medial branch enters the superior aspect of the gland parenchyma and the lateral branch enters its inferior aspect. The average branch lengths were 17.88 mm (medial) and 13.51 mm (lateral) as measured with a Mitutoyo Absolute 1/100 mm caliper. We could not confirm the existence of a third branch supplying the lacrimal gland, as posited by other authors. The key finding in this study is that the lacrimal gland is predominantly supplied by two significant arterial branches, both of which must be identified during procedures involving the lateral orbit.

Investigation into the ophthalmic artery and its branches by superselective angiography

“…Morphometry of the Lacrimal Artery: The LA originates at the apex of the orbit and follows the lacrimal nerve anteriorly above the superior margin of the lateral rectus muscle to supply the lacrimal gland. 18 We measured LA diameter 0.35 ± 0.12 mm and the LA was the largest branch of the OA. However, the mean diameter was measured 0.70 mm by Lang and Kageyama 7 and 0.50 mm by Perrini et al 8 Our result was lower than that reported previously.…”

“…7,8,17 Perrini et al 8 found that the LA originated from the MMA at a rate of 29%. Kluckman et al 18 performed dissections on 25 orbits and they showed 23 lacrimal glands were supplied by the OA system, one was supplied by an anastomotic branch with MMA and the other one was supplied both the anterior deep temporal artery and the OA. In present study, we found that all LAs arose from the OA.…”

“…Meanwhile, main objective of this study was to evaluate the diameter, origin and angiographic visibility percentage of OA and its branches using superselective angiography images in pediatric age group. The majority of literature on this subject consists of adult cadaveric studies, 3,4,7–20 however there are only few pediatric angiographic studies in the literature. 21–23 Of these studies, a recently published study from our team actually relates to an incidental finding of a high rate of anastomotic connections between the OA and MMA and it is one of the most comprehensive angiographic study about OA angiograhic anatomy, yet it still lacks the details on anatomy of OA branches.…”

“…Morphometry of the Lacrimal Artery: The LA originates at the apex of the orbit and follows the lacrimal nerve anteriorly above the superior margin of the lateral rectus muscle to supply the lacrimal gland. 18…”

Microvascular anastomosis of the human lacrimal gland: a concept study towards transplantation of the human lacrimal gland

“…Five cadaver heads from the university hospital’s body donation program for medical education and scientific research were used to develop this surgical technique (Table 1 ). Three heads were preserved using the modified Thiel-soft-embalming protocol [ 5 , 6 ]. This fixation procedure provides realistic visual and haptic properties without the risk of infection or time pressure due to tissue degradation.…”