Supratrochlear artery
Arteria supratrochlearis
A small terminal branch of the ophthalmic artery that leaves the orbit at its upper inner corner and climbs onto the forehead.
At a glance
- English
- Supratrochlear artery
- Latin (TA2)
- Arteria supratrochlearis
- System
- Artery
- Region
- Head
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the supratrochlear artery
The supratrochlear artery, sometimes called the frontal artery, counts among the two end branches of the ophthalmic artery, and it begins high in the medial part of the orbit, close to the little cartilaginous pulley (the trochlea) through which the tendon of the superior oblique muscle turns, and that is where its name comes from.
From its origin the vessel runs forwards along the roof and inner wall of the orbit, keeping to the medial side of the trochlear nerve. It is joined by the supratrochlear nerve, and the two leave the orbit together at the supratrochlear (frontal) notch, a small gap in the upper orbital margin that is not present in every skull. This exit lies medial to the supraorbital notch or foramen, where the supraorbital artery and nerve emerge. Once on the face the artery turns upwards and spreads over the forehead towards the scalp.
On the forehead it feeds the skin of the medial part of the brow and front of the scalp, the frontal belly of occipitofrontalis lying beneath, and the pericranium covering the frontal bone. Its branches join those of the supraorbital artery on the same side and of the matching artery from the other side, so the midline forehead has a rich, two-sided blood supply.
Because the ophthalmic artery comes from the internal carotid while the other forehead and scalp vessels come from the external carotid, these connections form one of the classic links between the two carotid systems. Surgeons rely on the vessel as the pedicle of the paramedian forehead flap used to rebuild the nose, and injecting filler into the glabella carries a recognised risk of entering it and tracking back towards the eye.
Course and supply
- Arises from
- Arises in the orbit as a terminal branch of the ophthalmic artery, close to the superior oblique's trochlea.
- Ends in
- Ends in branches on the medial forehead and front of the scalp, joining the supraorbital artery of the same side and the supratrochlear artery of the other side.
- Supplies
- Supplies the skin of the medial forehead and anterior scalp, the frontal belly of occipitofrontalis and the pericranium over the frontal bone.
Anthromica
See the supratrochlear 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.
