An anomalous ophthalmic artery arising from the middle meningeal artery.
A case of the left ophthalmic artery arising from the frontal branch of the middle meningeal artery was found in the cadaver of a 65 year-old Japanese man who died of senility. The original ophthalmic artery, much smaller than normal, arose from the internal carotid artery and communicated with a branch of the anomalous ophthalmic artery under the optic nerve. From this communicating branch, the central artery of the retina originated. The right ophthalmic artery was also anomalous. Though normal in origin and ramification, it passed under the optic nerve to reach the medial wall of the orbit.
D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008576:Meningeal Arteries / Q000002:abnormalities; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000002:abnormalities*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000098:blood supply; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology