Quick Facts
Origin: Ophthalmic artery.
Course: Posterior to the nasolacrimal sac.
Branches: Posterior conjunctival arteries, superior and inferior palpebral arches.
Supplied Structures: Eyelids.
Origin
The ophthalmic artery passes anteriorly along the medial wall of the superior orbit. It gives off the medial palpebral artery inferior to the trochlea of the superior oblique muscle.
Course
The medial palpebral artery passes inferolaterally and posterior to the nasolacrimal sac.
Branches
As the medial palpebral artery reaches the medial aspect of the eyelids, it divides into the superior and inferior medial palpebral arteries. These enter the superior and inferior eyelids, respectively. They extend laterally to anastomose with the lateral palpebral arteries and together form anastomotic arches within the upper and lower eyelids. In addition, the medial palpebral arteries also give rise to the posterior conjunctival arteries that supply the conjunctiva and lacrimal caruncle.
Supplied Structures
The medial palpebral arteries supply the eyelids, as well as the nasolacrimal duct.
