Maxillary artery

The maxillary artery is the largest terminal branch and main continuation of the external carotid artery. It supplies the deep structures of the head, including the mandible and maxilla, teeth, muscles of mastication, orbit, nasal cavity and palate.

• Origin: External carotid artery, after the origin of the superficial temporal artery.

• Course / Relations: The maxillary artery courses rostromedially, ventral to the temporomandibular joint, and passes through the alar canal. It then emerges rostrally into the pterygopalatine region, where it gives rise to several branches supplying the orbit, nasal cavity and palate.

• Termination / Branches / Anastomoses: Its major branches in the dog include the inferior alveolar, caudal deep temporal, middle meningeal, external ophthalmic, descending palatine, minor palatine, major palatine and sphenopalatine arteries. The maxillary artery continues rostrally as the infraorbital artery. Through branches of the external ophthalmic artery, it also participates in anastomoses with the intracranial arterial circulation.

The maxillary artery is the main rostral continuation of the external carotid artery and an important source of arterial blood to the deep regions of the head. It passes rostromedially toward the base of the skull and traverses the alar canal before reaching the pterygopalatine region. Before entering the alar canal, it gives off branches including the inferior alveolar, caudal deep temporal and middle meningeal arteries. After emerging from the canal, it gives rise to the external ophthalmic artery and several branches supplying the palate and nasal cavity. It ultimately continues as the infraorbital artery, which enters the infraorbital canal and supplies the maxillary teeth and rostral facial region.