title: Endoscopic anatomy of the anterior ethmoidal artery: a cadaveric dissection study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The anterior ethmoidal artery (AEA) is an important point of anatomical reference in order to locate the frontal sinus and the skull base. Notwithstanding, despite numerous endoscopic studies in cadavers, we still lack an anatomical study on the AEA in the western population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to determine reference points used to locate the artery, study its relationship with the skull base and its degree of dehiscence, as well as to study intra and inter individual variations.
  
  
  METHODS
  we dissected the nasal fossae belonging to 25 cadavers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the average intranasal length of the anterior ethmoidal artery was 5.2 mm. The anterior ethmoidal canal presented some degree of dehiscence in 66.7%. The average distance between the artery middle point to the anterior nasal spine was of 61.72 mm (sd=4.18 mm); to the lateral nasal wall (nasal axilla) was of 64.04 mm (sd=4.69 mm); and from the anterior axilla to the middle turbinate was of 21.14 mm (sd=3.25 mm). For all the measures there was no statistically significant measures when both sides were compared (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that the middle conchae axilla is the most reliable point of reference to locate the AEA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital, Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Brazil. bcaf@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Bernardo Cunha
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Araujo Filho
authors.forename: Raimar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Carlos Diógenes
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Pinheiro Neto
authors.forename: Marcus Miranda
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lessa
authors.forename: Richard Louis
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Voegels
authors.forename: Ossamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Butugan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002102:Cadaver; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged