Quick Facts
Origin: Maxillary artery.
Course: Passes into nasal cavity.
Branches: Posterior lateral nasal artery and posterior septal branches.
Supplied Structures: Mucosa of nose and nasopharynx.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The sphenopalatine artery is a terminal branch of the third part of the maxillary artery as it passes through the pterygopalatine fossa.
Course
The sphenopalatine artery passes into the nasal cavity through the sphenopalatine foramen, an opening between the pterygopalatine fossa and the nasal cavity.
Branches
The sphenopalatine artery divides into a posterior lateral nasal and posterior septal branches as it emerges through the sphenopalatine foramen.
Supplied Structures
The sphenopalatine artery is the main arterial contributor to the mucosa to the nose. Additionally, it supplies structures surrounding the nose and the nasopharynx.
