Infraorbital Artery

The infraorbital artery is a blood vessel of the face which supplies the muscles of the eyeball and the front teeth of maxilla. It arises from the third part of maxillary artery in the pterygopalatine fossa, sharing a common trunk with the posterior superior alveolar artery.

From its point of origin, the infraorbital artery runs upward through the inferior orbital fissure into the eye orbit, fitting into the infraorbital groove (sulcus infraorbitalis). Then it lies in the infraorbital canal as runs. It finally emerges from the infraorbital foramen onto the face where it gives off terminal branches to the tissues of the infraorbital region.

Along its course, the infraorbital artery gives off the following branches: 1) ocular arteries, which supply the inferior rectus and inferior oblique muscle of eyeball; 2) anterior superior alveolar arteries, which bring oxygenated blood to the incisors, canines and the gum of maxilla as well as to its mucous membrane.

Below, a schematic picture of arteries of face, showing the posterior superior alveolar and infraorbital artery originating together as a common trunk from the third portion of maxillary artery. The zygomatic bone is missing so that the point of origin of artery can be seen.