title: Orbital Branch of the Infraorbital Artery: Further Characterization of an Important Surgical Landmark.
abstract: The orbital branch of the infraorbital artery, a key vascular structure that is not universally noted in orbital textbooks and atlases, is clinically significant, since injury to it can result in perioperative hemorrhage. We conducted a cadaver dissection to document its presence, measure its location, and evaluate it histopathologically. It was present in 8 of 9 orbits and was a mean distance of 16.6 mm (range 10-23) from the inferior orbital rim. In half of the specimens, there were 2 separate structures seen. Histopathology confirmed these structures to be neurovascular bundles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts , USA .
authors.forename: Avni V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Alia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.forename: Frederick A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Jakobiec
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Lefebvre
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009915:Orbit / Q000098:blood supply*
keywords: Infraorbital artery; operative complications; orbital anatomy; orbital branch; orbital vasculature