middle meningeal artery

Introduction

The largest of meningeal arteries.

Origin

maxillary artery

Course

travels in the periosteum & supplies overlying bone

Branches

• petrosal
• superior tympanic artery
• frontal
• parietal artery

Anastomoses

• meningeal branches of the occipital artery
• ascending pharyngeal artery
• ophthalmic artery
• lacrimal artery
• stylomastoid artery
• accessory meningeal branch of the maxillary artery
• deep temporal artery

Distribution

• frontal bone
• parietal bone
• petrosal & superior tympanic part of temporal bone
• anterior & middle cranial fossa (via terminal branches)

Pathology

• skull fracture tearing a branch of the middle meningeal artery can result in epidural hematoma

More general terms

• artery

Additional terms

• epidural hematoma
• middle meningeal vein