Corpus: Long posterior ciliary arteries
1. Definition
The long posterior ciliary arteries are branches of the ophthalmic artery that supply blood to the eye.
2. Anatomy
The long posterior ciliary arteries pierce the posterior sclera near the optic nerve and run along both sides of the eye between the sclera and choroid, extending forward to the ciliary muscle. There, they each divide into two branches that form the major arterial circle of the iris. Numerous smaller branches extend from this circle within the iris tissue and run toward the inner edge of the iris, where they form the smaller iridociliary artery.