Inferolateral trunk

The inferolateral trunk (ILT) arises as a single trunk or a collection of vessels from the lateral aspect of the cavernous carotid artery region. It usually supplies adjacent dura and cranial nerves and has extensive anastomoses with the extracranial circulation, particular branches of the IMAX and middle meningeal artery as well as ophthalmic artery.  It is a remnant of the primitive dorsal ophthalmic artery.

The ILT and adult ophthalmic arteries are primary routes of ICA reconstitution following proximal ICA occlusion.

Text adapted from neuroangio.org