1472 



A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



In this part of its course it furnislies numerous branches forwards and back- 

 wards. 



The posterior branch passes outwards and upwards on the squamous part 

 of the temporal bone, and then on to the inner aspect of the inferior border 

 of the parietal bone, where there is a meningeal groove about the centre. 

 From this point it ascends in a branching groove as high as the superior longi- 

 tudinal sinus, giving off branches forwards and backwards. 



The distribution of the middle meningeal artery extends as high as the 

 superior longitudinal sinus, forwards on to the frontal bone, and backwards 

 on to the occipital bone. Besides supplying the dura mater and the inner 

 table and diploe of the bones, the vessel furnishes the following branches : 

 (i) Gasserian to the Gasserian ganglion ; (2) a petrosal branch, which passes 

 through the hiatus Fallopii to supply the facial nerve in the aqueduct of 

 Fallopius, and anastomose with the stylo-mastoid branch of the posterior 



Anterior Temporal Diploic Vein 



Posterior Temporal 

 Diploic Vein 



Occipital Diploic 

 Vein 



Fig. 615. — The Veins of the Diploe. 

 (The outer tables of the Cranial Bones have been removed). 



auricular artery ; and (3) an orbital branch, which enters the orbit through the 

 sphenoidal fissure, and anastomoses with the ophthalmic artery. 



The meningeal branches ol the ascending pharyngeal artery, which is a 

 branch of the external carotid, are three in number. One passes through the 

 foramen lacerum medium into the middle fossa ; another passes through the 

 jugular foramen into the posterior fossa ; and the third passes through the 

 anterior condylar foramen, likewise into the posterior fossa. 



The posterior meningeal branch ol the occipital artery passes through the 

 jugular foramen into the posterior fossa. 



The posterior meningeal branch of the vertebral artery passes through the 

 foramen magnum into the cerebellar fossa of the occipital bone. 



Meningeal Veins. — The veins accompanying the middle meningeal ai-tery 

 are two in number. They pass through the foramen spinosum, and terminate 

 in the pterygoid plexus of veins. The other meningeal veins are disposed 

 in one of two ways. Some of them accompany the corresponding arteries 

 and terminate in extracranial veins ; whilst others terminate in the various 

 intracranial venous sinuses, in part directly and in part through means of 

 venous lacunae. 



