Anterior ethmoidal artery: nasal branch of the ophthalmic
Quick facts
- Definition
- Branch of the ophthalmic artery that crosses the orbit and reaches the nose.
- Origin
- Internal carotid system.
- Supplies
- Upper part of the septum and lateral wall of the nose, from the inside.
- External branch
- Gives rise to the dorsal nasal artery.
- In facial harmonization
- One of the bridges between the eye's circulation and the nose's.
The anterior ethmoidal artery is a branch of the ophthalmic artery. It leaves the orbit, passes through a bony canal to the skull and descends into the nasal cavity, where it supplies the upper part of the septum and the lateral wall. An external branch of this course gives rise to the dorsal nasal artery, which appears in the skin of the nasal dorsum.
Why is it remembered in facial harmonization?
It is one of the links between the eye and the nose. Since the ophthalmic belongs to the internal carotid system, and the arteries of the external nose connect with the facial artery, the network forms bridges through which injected material can, in theory, follow unexpected paths. This reasoning is part of the anastomoses that explain the risk of vascular occlusion in the nose and glabella.
| Territory | Artery | System |
|---|---|---|
| Inner nose, upper part | Anterior ethmoidal | Ophthalmic (internal carotid) |
| Dorsum of the nose | Dorsal nasal | Ophthalmic |
| Ala and groove | Lateral nasal and angular | Facial (external carotid) |
What are the implications?
- The same network that nourishes the nose connects to the eye.
- Signs of a vascular problem in the nose should be treated as an emergency, and those in the eye even more so.
- The clinic's preparation includes hyaluronidase and a referral protocol.
What does the patient need to hear?
That the nose is a delicate region, with a rare but serious risk, and that signs such as severe pain or visual change must be reported right away. This should be part of the informed consent.
Also called: anterior ethmoidal branch of the ophthalmic.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the nose considered high risk?
Because its vessels communicate with the eye's circulation, partly through branches of the ophthalmic artery such as the anterior ethmoidal. Material that enters a vessel can be carried to the retina.