Divided maxillary artery in relation to the lateral pterygoid muscle

Abstract

We describe an anatomical variation of the right maxillary artery. The variation loops deep, giving off a middle meningeal artery with an extremely short extracranial segment, then bifurcates into unequal branches. The smaller branch passes superficial to the lateral pterygoid head and distributes primarily to the masticatory muscles. The larger partially pierces the lateral pterygoid lower head, re-emerges superficially, branches again and passes into the pterygopalatine fossa. The larger lies superficial to the lingual and inferior alveolar nerves and deep to the buccal nerve. An embryonic development origin of the cranial arteries is suggested.

Proximity of the middle meningeal artery and maxillary artery to the mandibular head and mandibular neck as revealed by three-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography

“…Two main subtypes of maxillary arterial courses have been described based on their relationship with the lateral pterygoid muscle: a lateral or superficial type and a medial or deep type. The course is thought to be partly dependent on ethnicity and gender [16][17][18].…”