Accessory branch of middle meningeal artery
Ramus accessorius arteriae meningeae mediae
- Latin synonym: Ramus meningeus accessorius arteriae meningeae mediae
- Synonym: Pterygomeningeal artery; Accessory meningeal artery
- Related terms: Accessory branch; Pterygomeningeal artery; Pterygomeningeal artery / Accessory branch - (Middle meningeal artery)
Definition
The pterygomeningeal artery (also known as accessory meningeal artery, accessory branch of middle meningeal artery, small meningeal or parvidural branch) is a branch of the maxillary artery, sometimes derived from the middle meningeal artery.
It enters the skull through the foramen ovale, and supplies the semilunar ganglion and dura mater.
Nomenclature: Only about 10% of the blood flowing through this artery reaches intracranial structures. The remaining blood flow is dispersed to extracranial structures around the infratemporal fossa. Reflecting this fact, Terminologia Anatomica lists entries for both "accessory branch of middle meningeal artery" and "pterygomeningeal artery".
References
This definition incorporates text from the wikipedia website - Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia. (2004, July 22). FL: Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved August 10, 2004, from http://www.wikipedia.org
