138 THE SURGICAL ANATOMY OF THE HORSE 



mater, and then unites with the corresponding branch of 

 the opposite side to form a single trunk, which joins the 

 middle cerebral artery. 



{b) The nasal branch passes into the nasal chamber through 

 the cribriform plate of the ethmoid, and to the upper part 

 of this chamber it is distributed. 



(8) The buccal artery. — This is the first branch given off after 

 the internal maxillary leaves the subsphenoidal canal. As its 

 name implies it is distributed to the buccal region. 



(9) The staphyline artery is a long and slender branch, which 

 courses along the staphyline groove to reach the soft palate, to 

 which it is distributed- 



(10) The spheno-palatine artery passes through the foramen 

 of the same name to enter the nasal chamber. It is 

 distributed chiefly to the posterior meatus. 



(11) The superior dental artery passes into the superior dental 

 canal, and is distributed to the molar and incisor teeth of the 

 upper jaw. Before entering the canal this vessel gives off a long 

 orbital branch, which passes over the floor of the orbit to reach the 

 face where it anastomoses with the angular artery. Within the 

 canal the superior dental artery gives off an infra-orbital branch, 

 which reaches the face by passing through the infra-orbital foramen. 



(12) The palato-labial artery is the direct continuation of 

 the internal maxillary. It passes through the superior 

 palatine foramen into the palatine canal. Leaving the canal 

 by the inferior palatine foramen it runs along the palatine 

 groove. As it approaches the body of the pre-maxilla it 

 curves inwards towards the middle line, passing under the 

 small bar of cartilage which is here situate. In the middle 

 of the palate the vessel meets, and inosculates with the corre- 

 sponding vessel of the opposite side, and the resulting artery 

 passes forwards through the incisor foramen to supply the 



