Meningeal artery

The meningeal arteries.

The Meningeal artery is a significant blood vessel in the human body that supplies the meninges and parts of the calvaria. It is a branch of the maxillary artery, which is itself a branch of the external carotid artery.

Structure

The meningeal artery typically branches off from the maxillary artery in the infratemporal fossa. It then ascends to the foramen spinosum to enter the middle cranial fossa. The artery is responsible for supplying blood to the dura mater, the outermost layer of the meninges, as well as parts of the calvaria, the upper, domed part of the skull.

Clinical significance

Damage to the meningeal artery can lead to a subdural hematoma, a condition where blood collects between the dura mater and the arachnoid mater. This can cause increased intracranial pressure and can be life-threatening.

See also

• Maxillary artery
• External carotid artery
• Foramen spinosum
• Middle cranial fossa
• Dura mater
• Subdural hematoma

External links

• Meningeal artery at AnatomyExpert.com

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