290 IN 7 TERNAL MAXILLARY ARTERY. 



while the other escapes with the nerve at the mental foramen, and anasto- 

 moses with the inferior labial and submental branch of the facial. It sup- 

 plies the teeth of the lower jaw, sending small branches along the canals 

 in their roots. 



The Arteria meningea media ascends behind the temporo-maxillary ar- 

 ticulation 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 di- 

 vides into branches, which ramify upon the external surface of the dura 

 mater, and anastomose with corresponding branches from the opposite 

 side. The posterior branch crosses the squamous portion of the temporal 

 oone, 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 this artery 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 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 (temporales pro- 

 fundse) are two in number. 



The Superior dental artery is given off from the internal maxillary, just 

 as that vessel is about to make its turn inwards to reach the spheno-max- 

 illary fossa. It descends upon the tuberosity of the superior maxillary 

 bone, and sends its branches through several small foramina 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 con- 

 tinuation 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 it emerges on the face at the infra- 

 orbital foramen. The branch which supplies the incisor teeth is the ante- 

 rior dental artery ; on the face the infra-orbital inosculates with the facial 

 and transverse facial arteries. 



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

 ptery go-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 MeckePs ganglion, and divides into two branches ; one of which is 

 distributed in the mucous membrane of the septum, while the other sup- 

 plies 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 palatine 

 canal, in company witn the posterior palatine branches of Meckel's gan- 

 glion, to the posterior palatine foramen ; it then curves forward, lying in 

 a groove upon the bone, and is distributed to the palate. While in the 

 posterior palatine canal it sends a branch backwards, through the small 

 j'osterior palatine foramen, to supply the soft palate, arid anteriorly it dis- 



