central retinal artery (Zinn artery)

Origin

ophthalmic artery

Course

• penetrates the optic nerve (CN II) 1 cm behind eye (extraocular part) to enter the eyeball (intraocular part) at the optic papilla in the retina

Branches

• superior temporal branch
• inferior temporal branch
• nasal branches

Anastomoses

NONE

Pathology

• this is an end artery; there are NO anastomoses
• occlusion results in total unilateral blindness

More general terms

• artery

Additional terms

• optic nerve (CN II, ON)
• retinal artery occlusion