308 INTERNAL MAXILLARY ARTERY. 



Branches. 



Maxillary Portion. Pterygoid Portion. 



Tympanic, Deep temporal branches, 



Inferior dental, External pterygoid, 



Arteria meningea media, Internal pterygoid, 



Arteria meningea parva. Masseteric, 



Buccal. 



Pterygo-maanllary Portion. 



Superior dental, 

 Infra-orbital, 

 Pterygo -palatine, 

 Spheno-palatine, 

 Posterior palatine, 

 Vidian. 



The Tympanic branch is small and not likely to be seen in an ordi- 

 nary dissection ; it is distributed to the temporo-maxillary articulation 

 and meatus, and passes into the tympanum through the fissura Glasseri. 



The Inferior dental descends to the dental foramen, and enters the 

 canal of the lower jaw in company with the dental nerve. Opposite 

 the bicuspid teeth it divides into two branches, one of which is conti- 

 nued onwards within the bone as far as the symphysis, to supply the 

 incisor teeth, while the other escapes with the nerve at the mental fo- 

 ramen, and anastomoses with the inferior labial and submental branch 

 of the facial. It supplies the teeth of the lower jaw, sending small 

 branches along the canals in their roots. 



The Arteria meningea media ascends behind the temporo-maxillary 

 articulation to the foramen spinosum in the spinous process of the 

 sphenoid bone, and, entering the cranium, divides into an anterior and 

 a posterior branch. The anterior branch crosses the great ala of the 

 sphenoid to the groove or canal in the anterior inferior angle of the 

 parietal bone, and divides into branches, which ramify upon the exter- 

 nal surface of the dura mater, and anastomose with corresponding 

 branches from the opposite side. The posterior branch crosses the squa- 

 mous portion of the temporal bone, to the posterior part of the dura 

 mater and cranium. The branches of the arteria meningea media are 

 distributed chiefly to the bones of the skull ; in the middle fossa it 

 sends a small branch through the hiatus Fallopii to the facial nerve. 



The Meningea parva is a small branch which ascends to the foramen 

 ovale, and passes into the skull to be distributed to the Casserian gan- 

 glion and dura mater. It gives off a twig to the nasal fossae and soft 

 palate. 



The Muscular branches are distributed, as their names imply, to the 

 five muscles of the maxillary region ; the temporal branches (tempo- 

 rales profundae) are two in number. 



The Superior dental artery is given off from the internal maxillary. 



