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Anatomic features of the intracranial and intracanalicular portions of ophthalmic artery: for the surgical procedures

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Abstract

The intracranial and intracanalicular portions of the ophthalmic artery is suspectible to various diseases and injuries; therefore, knowledge of the microanatomy of the complex bony, dural, vascular, and neural relationships of this segment is necessary for proper diagnosis and preservation of the neurovascular structures during subfrontal, pterional and intracanalicular procedures. The artery was studied in 38 human adult cadaver specimens regarding origin, intracranial and intracanalicular portions for surgical approachs. The ophthalmic artery originated from the intradural portion of the internal carotid artery, except in 5% where the ophthalmic artery originated extradurally. The ophthalmic artery originated from medial of superior wall of internal carotid artery in 73.7%, from the central in 21% and the lateral in 5.3% of the specimens. The diameter of the ophthalmic artery at its origin was 2.25±0.3 mm on the right and 2.16±0.4 mm on the left. The intracranial and intracanalicular course of the artery was divided into short limb, angle “a”, long limb, angle “b” and distal part to the apex of the orbit. Awareness of variations in anatomic structures is paramount importance both for diagnosis and treatment of vascular lesions of the brain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, 35100, Izmir, Turkey

    Senem Erdogmus & Figen Govsa

Authors
  1. Senem Erdogmus
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  2. Figen Govsa
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Correspondence to Figen Govsa.

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Comments

Evandro De Oliveira, São Paulo, Brazil

Erdogmus and Govsa present us with an anatomic study of intracranial and intracanalicular portions of ophthalmic artery. They described the different origins and courses in 38 cadaver specimens. As they clearly point out, the importance of anatomic knowledge of this intricate anatomic region is of paramount importance to achieve a good clinical outcome in the management of paraclinoid aneurysms, meningiomas and pituitary tumors. The anatomical photographs are clear, and help to understand the relationship of the origin of the ophthalmic artery with major anatomical landmarks. The discussion is well oriented and the references were thoroughly selected. In conclusion, this paper is recommended for those neurosurgeons interested in the anatomy of this interesting region.

Comments

Kazuhiro Hongo, Matsumoto, Japan

This is a paper reporting on the microsurgical anatomy of the ophthalmic artery. It is well known that the ophthalmic artery has a wide variation in terms of its origin and course, and knowing the detalied anatomy is essential, especially for the surgery on the paraclinoid aneurysm. The authors, using 38 cadaver specimens, analyzed the origin of the ophthalmic artery, and also analyzed the course of the intracanalicular portion. Same as in previous reports, the ophthalmic artery originated extradurally in 5%. The course of the ophthalmic artery is well analyzed by dividing into five parts: short limb, angle “a”, long limb, angle “b”, and distal part. For clipping of the paraclinoid aneurysm, removal of the anterior clinoid process and drilling of the optic strut are necessary. For the contralateral approach to the paraclinoid aneurysm, exposure of the medial side of the ophthalmic portion of the internal carotid artery is necessary. Especially in these situations, knowing the detailed anatomy of the ophthalmic artery is quite important. This paper gives a helpful information for the readers of this journal.

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Erdogmus, S., Govsa, F. Anatomic features of the intracranial and intracanalicular portions of ophthalmic artery: for the surgical procedures. Neurosurg Rev 29, 213–218 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-006-0028-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-006-0028-6

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