The anterior ciliary arteries are seven arteries in each eye-socket that arise from muscular branches of the ophthalmic artery and supply the conjunctiva, sclera, rectus muscles, and the ciliary body. The arteries end by anastomosing with branches of the long posterior ciliary arteries to form the circulus arteriosus major.
| Anterior ciliary arteries | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Iris, front view. | |
| Details | |
| Source | Ophthalmic artery |
| Vein | Anterior ciliary veins |
| Supplies | Conjunctiva, sclera and recti muscles |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | arteriae ciliares anteriores |
| TA98 | A12.2.06.034 |
| TA2 | 4485 |
| FMA | 70782 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Anatomy
editThere are seven anterior ciliary arteries on each side of the body;[1] two anterior ciliary arteries are associated with the superior, the medial, and the inferior rectus muscles, whereas the lateral rectus muscle is associated with only a single anterior ciliary artery.[1][2]
Origin
editThe anterior ciliary arteries arise from muscular branches of the ophthalmic artery[1][2][3] supplying the rectus muscles of the eye.[2]
Course and relations
editThe anterior ciliary arteries exit the muscles near the muscles' insertions,[2] passing anterior-ward alongside the rectus muscles' tendons[2][3] before turning inward to perforate the sclera near the corneal limbus to reach the ciliary body. Upon reaching the ciliary body,[2] they end by forming the circulus arteriosus major[3] by anastomosing with branches of the long posterior ciliary arteries.[2]
Branches and distribution
editThe anterior ciliary arteries contribute arterial blood supply to the rectus muscles, conjunctiva, sclera,[2][1] and the ciliary body.[citation needed]
The anterior ciliary arteries issue branches to the conjunctiva before piercing the sclera, forming an artieral network in the limbal conjunctiva. They also issue branches to the episclera.[2]
Anastomoses
editWithin the ciliary body, the anterior ciliary arteries anastomose with branches of the long posterior ciliary arteries to form the circulus arteriosus major.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Gupta, Neha; Motlagh, Mahsaw; Singh, Gurdeep (2022), "Anatomy, Head and Neck, Eye Arteries", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 30725748, retrieved 2022-12-24
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Remington, Lee Ann (2012). "11 - Orbital Blood Supply". Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of the Visual System (3rd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. pp. 202–217. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4377-1926-0.10011-6. ISBN 978-1-4377-1926-0.
- ^ a b c Remington, Lee Ann (2012). "11 - Orbital Blood Supply". Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of the Visual System (3rd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. pp. 202–217. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4377-1926-0.10011-6. ISBN 978-1-4377-1926-0.
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