INTERNAL MAXILLARY ARTERY. 277 



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 external surface of the dura mater, and anastomose with corre- 

 sponding branches from the opposite side. The posterior branch 

 crosses the squamous portion of the temporal bone, to the posterior 

 part of the dura mater and cranium. The branches of the arteria 

 meningea magna are distributed chiefly to the bones of the skull ; 

 and 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 ganglion and dura mater. It gives off a small branch 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 are 

 two in number. 



The Superior dental artery is given off from the internal maxil- 

 lary, just as that vessel is about to make its turn into the spheno- 

 maxillary fossa. It descends upon the tuberosity of the superior 

 maxillary bone, and sends its branches through several small fora- 

 mina to supply the posterior teeth of the upper jaw, and the antrum. 

 The terminal branches are continued forwards upon the alveolar 

 process, to be distributed to the gums and to the sockets of the 

 teeth. 



The Infra-orbital would appear, from its size, to be the proper 

 continuation of the artery. It runs along the infra-orbital canal 

 with the superior maxillary nerve, sending branches into the orbit 

 and downwards through canals in the bone, to supply the mucous 

 lining of the antrum and the teeth of the upper jaw, and escapes 

 from the infra-orbital foramen. The branch which supplies the in- 

 cisor teeth is the anterior dental artery ; on the face it inosculates 

 with the facial and transverse facial arteries. 



The Pterygo-palatine is a small branch which passes through the 

 pterygo-palatine canal, and supplies the upper. part of the pharynx 

 and Eustachian tube. 



The Spheno-palatine, or nasal, enters the superior meatus of the 

 nose through the spheno-palatine foramen in company with the nasal 

 branches of Meckel's ganglion, and divides into two branches ; one 

 of which is distributed in the mucous membrane of the septum, while 

 the other supplies the mucous membrane of the lateral wall of the 

 nares, together with the sphenoid and ethmoid cells. 



The Posterior palatine artery descends along the posterior pala- 

 tine canal, in company with the posterior palatine branches of 

 Meckel's ganglion, to the posterior palatine foramen ; it then curves 

 forwards lying in a groove upon the bone, and is distributed to the 

 palate, while in the posterior palatine canal it sends a small branch 

 backwards, through the small posterior palatine foramen to supply 

 the soft palate, and anteriorly it supplies a branch to the anterior 

 palatine canal, which reaches the nares and inosculates with the 

 branches of the spheno-palatine artery. 



