Anterior septal branches of anterior ethmoidal artery
Rami septales anteriores arteriae ethmoidalis anterioris
Branches of the anterior ethmoidal artery that run down the front and upper nasal septum, contributing to the vascular area where nosebleeds arise.
At a glance
- English
- Anterior septal branches of anterior ethmoidal artery
- Latin (TA2)
- Rami septales anteriores arteriae ethmoidalis anterioris
- System
- Artery
- Region
- Head
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the anterior septal branches of anterior ethmoidal artery
The anterior ethmoidal artery is a branch of the ophthalmic artery, and so of the internal carotid system. It leaves the orbit through the anterior ethmoidal foramen with the anterior ethmoidal nerve, crosses the roof of the ethmoidal air cells, enters the anterior cranial fossa beside the cribriform plate and then descends into the nasal cavity through a small slit next to the crista galli. Once in the nose it divides into lateral nasal branches for the side wall and anterior septal branches for the septum.
The anterior septal branches run downwards and forwards over the upper and anterior part of the nasal septum, beneath its mucous membrane. They supply the mucosa covering this region, together with the underlying perichondrium and periosteum. The posterior and lower septum is supplied by the posterior septal branches of the sphenopalatine artery, which belong to the external carotid system.
On the front of the septum, a little behind the nostril, the anterior septal branches meet the septal branches of the sphenopalatine artery, the greater palatine artery and the septal branch of the superior labial artery. Their meeting forms a dense network in the mucosa known as Kiesselbach's plexus, in Little's area.
This network is where the great majority of nosebleeds begin, since the mucosa there is thin and exposed to drying air and to the finger. Most such bleeds stop with pressure or cautery. When bleeding comes from high in the nose and does not settle, the anterior ethmoidal artery may be tied or clipped in the orbit, because the branches cannot be reached from the external carotid side.
Course and supply
- Arises from
- Arise from the anterior ethmoidal artery after it enters the nasal cavity beside the crista galli.
- Ends in
- End in the mucosa of the anterior and upper septum and in Kiesselbach's plexus, joining branches of the sphenopalatine, greater palatine and superior labial arteries.
- Supplies
- Supply the mucous membrane, perichondrium and periosteum of the anterior and upper nasal septum.
Anthromica
See the anterior septal branches of anterior ethmoidal artery where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
