Anterior ciliary arteries

Anterior ciliary arteries
The arteries of the choroid and iris. The greater part of the sclera has been removed.
Iris, front view.
Details
Source	Ophthalmic artery
Vein	Anterior ciliary veins
Supplies	Conjunctiva, sclera and recti muscles
Identifiers
Latin	arteriae ciliares anteriores
TA98	A12.2.06.034
TA2	4485
FMA	70782
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The anterior ciliary arteries are seven arteries in each eye-socket that arise from muscular branches of the ophthalmic artery and supply the conjunctiva, sclera, rectus muscles, and the ciliary body. The arteries end by anastomosing with branches of the long posterior ciliary arteries to form the circulus arteriosus major.

Anatomy

There are seven anterior ciliary arteries on each side of the body;^[1] two anterior ciliary arteries are associated with the superior, the medial, and the inferior rectus muscles, whereas the lateral rectus muscle is associated with only a single anterior ciliary artery.^[1][2]

Origin

The anterior ciliary arteries arise from muscular branches of the ophthalmic artery^[1][2][3] supplying the rectus muscles of the eye.^[2]

Course and relations

The anterior ciliary arteries exit the muscles near the muscles' insertions,^[2] passing anterior-ward alongside the rectus muscles' tendons^[2][3] before turning inward to perforate the sclera near the corneal limbus to reach the ciliary body. Upon reaching the ciliary body,^[2] they end by forming the circulus arteriosus major^[3] by anastomosing with branches of the long posterior ciliary arteries.^[2]

Branches and distribution

The anterior ciliary arteries contribute arterial blood supply to the rectus muscles, conjunctiva, sclera,^[2][1] and the ciliary body.^{[citation needed]}

The anterior ciliary arteries issue branches to the conjunctiva before piercing the sclera, forming an artieral network in the limbal conjunctiva. They also issue branches to the episclera.^[2]

Anastomoses

Within the ciliary body, the anterior ciliary arteries anastomose with branches of the long posterior ciliary arteries to form the circulus arteriosus major.^[2]

References

1. Gupta, Neha; Motlagh, Mahsaw; Singh, Gurdeep (2022), "Anatomy, Head and Neck, Eye Arteries", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 30725748, retrieved 2022-12-24
2. Remington, Lee Ann (2012). "11 - Orbital Blood Supply". Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of the Visual System (3rd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. pp. 202–217. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4377-1926-0.10011-6. ISBN 978-1-4377-1926-0.
3. Remington, Lee Ann (2012). "11 - Orbital Blood Supply". Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of the Visual System (3rd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. pp. 202–217. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4377-1926-0.10011-6. ISBN 978-1-4377-1926-0.