Infraorbital artery: course beneath the eye
Quick facts
- Definition
- Branch of the maxillary artery that passes through the infraorbital canal and exits at the infraorbital foramen.
- Accompanies
- The infraorbital nerve, along the same course.
- Supplies
- Lower eyelid, part of the nose, upper cheek and upper lip.
- Communication
- Anastomosis with the angular artery and branches of the facial.
- In facial harmonization
- Safety landmark in the tear trough and the upper cheekbone area.
The infraorbital artery is a branch of the maxillary artery. It enters the orbit, runs through the infraorbital canal in the floor of the orbit and exits onto the face through the infraorbital foramen, accompanying the infraorbital nerve.
What is the course like?
After exiting through the foramen, the artery divides into branches that supply the lower eyelid, the side of the nose, the upper cheek and the upper lip. These branches communicate with the angular artery and the facial artery, forming a dense network in the periorbital region.
| Point | What exits or passes |
|---|---|
| Infraorbital canal | Artery and nerve, inside the bone |
| Infraorbital foramen | Exit of the bundle, below the edge of the orbit |
| Face | Branches to the eyelid, nose, cheek and lip |
Why does it matter in facial harmonization?
The foramen and the bundle are close to the region where the tear trough and the transition between the tear trough and the cheekbone are assessed. The network's connection with the eye's circulation makes the periorbital area a high vascular risk zone. Injury to the nerve, in turn, causes altered sensation in part of the face.
How to explain it to the patient?
You can say that the area under the eye has important vessels and nerves and that, for this reason, the indication is careful and the volumes are usually conservative. The conversation should include the warning signs and the clinic's contact.
Also called: infraorbital branch of the maxillary.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the infraorbital artery exit on the face?
Through the infraorbital foramen, in the bone of the maxilla, just below the edge of the orbit. The infraorbital nerve exits there too, and the area calls for care because of both.