Quick Facts
Origin: Maxillary artery.
Course: Passes from the pterygopalatine fossa to the oropharynx via the pterygoid canal.
Branches: Pharyngeal branch.
Supplied Structures: Pharynx, tympanic cavity, and auditory tube.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The artery of the pterygoid canal arises from the third part of the maxillary artery as it passes through the pterygopalatine fossa. Occasionally, the artery of the pterygoid canal arises from the internal carotid artery in the petrous part of the temporal bone (petrous part of the internal carotid artery).
Course
As its name suggests, the artery of the pterygoid canal passes through the pterygoid canal of the sphenoid bone, accompanied the nerve and vein of the pterygoid canal. The artery emerges from the canal in the oropharynx.
Branches
The artery of the pterygoid canal provides a pharyngeal branch in the oropharynx. Additionally, the artery of the pterygoid canal forms a complex anastomosis with the ethmoidal and sphenopalatine arteries in the pterygopalatine fossa. In the oropharynx, it anastomoses with the ascending pharyngeal, accessory meningeal, ascending palatine, and descending palatine arteries. Additionally, it anastomoses around the auditory tube (pharyngotympanic or Eustachian tube) (Standring, 2016).
Supplied Structures
The artery of the pterygoid canal supplies the auditory tube, tympanic cavity, and upper pharynx.
References
Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41 edn.: Elsevier Limited.
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