Corpus: Lacrimal artery

The lacrimal artery is a branch of the ophthalmic artery that supplies the lacrimal gland.

The lacrimal artery originates near the optic canal as one of the largest branches of the ophthalmic artery. It anastomoses with the middle meningeal artery and accompanies the lacrimal nerve along the lateral orbital wall, following the upper edge of the lateral rectus muscle. It also supplies smaller branches to the muscle.

The terminal branches of the lacrimal artery penetrate the lacrimal gland and continue to supply the eyelids and parts of the conjunctiva as the lateral palpebral arteries. The eyelid branches anastomose with the superior and inferior medial palpebral arteries.

Additionally, the lacrimal artery gives off two small zygomatic branches:^[1]

• One branch passes through the zygomaticofacial foramen and anastomoses with the transverse facial artery.
• The other branch passes through the zygomaticotemporal foramen and anastomoses in the temporal fossa with branches of the deep temporal artery.