Blood supply of the orbit and its contents

Question 1

Which structures are supplied with blood?

Answer 1

Blood supply is to all structures in

the orbit including eyeball.

Question 2

Which blood vessels supply blood?

Answer 2

Blood supply is mainly by
ophthalmic artery and
infraorbital artery

Question 3

What happens to the ophthalmic artery after it exits the cavernous sinus?

Answer 3

The ophthalmic artery is a branch of internal carotid
artery (ICA) after it leaves
cavernous sinus

Question 4

What does the ophthalmic artery enter the orbit with?

Answer 4

The ophthalmic artery enters the orbit with optic nerve at

optic canal.

Question 5

How does the ophthalmic artery lie within the orbit?

Answer 5

Within the orbit the ophthalmic artery lies inferior and

lateral to optic nerve.

Question 6

What does the ophthalmic artery cross as it passes forward?

Answer 6

As the ophthalmic artery passes forward it crosses
superior to optic nerve and
proceeds anteriorly to medial side
of orbit.

Question 7

What does the ophthalmic artery give off within the orbit?

Answer 7

Within the orbit the ophthalmic artery gives off
numerous branches (ten in
total)!!!!

Question 8

List the branches of the ophthalmic artery.

Answer 8

1) Lacrimal
2) Central retinal
3) Long and short posterior
ciliary
4) Muscular (anterior
ciliary)
5) Supraorbital
6) Posterior ethmoidal
7) Anterior ethmoidal
8) Medial palpebral arteries
9) Dorsal nasal
10) Supratrochlear

Question 9

State the course of the lacrimal branch of the ophthalmic artery.

Answer 9

• Arises at lateral side of optic 
nerve
• And passes anteriorly on 
lateral side of orbit 
• Passes along superior border of 
lateral rectus

Question 10

Which structures does the lacrimal branch supply?

Answer 10

Lacrimal gland, conjunctiva and

lateral side of eyelids

Question 11

State the course of the central retinal branch of the ophthalmic artery.

Answer 11

• Pierces dural sheath of
optic nerve
• Runs to eyeball
• Branches at optic disc

Question 12

Which structures does the central retinal artery supply?

Answer 12

Optic retina
(except rods
and cones)

Question 13

State the course of the short posterior ciliary branch of the ophthalmic artery.

Answer 13

Pierces sclera at
periphery of optic
nerve.

Question 14

Which structures does the short posterior ciliary branch supply?

Answer 14

Choroid and then

rods and cones

Question 15

State the course of the long posterior ciliary branch of the ophthalmic artery.

Answer 15

Pierces the sclera

Question 16

Which structures does the long posterior ciliary branch supply?

Answer 16

Ciliary body and Iris

Question 17

What is the muscular branch of the ophthalmic artery also referred to?

Answer 17

The muscular branch of the ophthalmic artery is also referred to as the anterior ciliary

Question 18

State the course of the muscular branch of the ophthalmic artery.

Answer 18

• Pierces sclera at 
attachments of recti 
muscles
• Forms a network in iris 
and ciliary body

Question 19

Which structures does the muscular branch supply?

Answer 19

Iris and ciliary body,
superior + M, L, S
recti

Question 20

State the course of the supraorbital branch of the ophthalmic artery.

Answer 20

Passes superiorly and
posteriorly from
supraorbital foramen

Question 21

Which structures does the supraorbital branch supply?

Answer 21

Forehead and scalp

Question 22

State the course of the posterior ethmoidal branch of the ophthalmic artery.

Answer 22

Passes through
posterior ethmoidal
foramen

Question 23

Which structures does the posterior ethmoidal branch supply?

Answer 23

Posterior ethmoidal

cells

Question 24

State the course of the anterior ethmoidal branch of the ophthalmic artery.

Answer 24

• Passes through anterior
ethmoidal foramen
• Enters anterior cranial
fossa

Question 25

Which structures does the anterior ethmoidal branch supply?

Answer 25

• Anterior and middle 
ethmoidal cells
• Frontal sinus
• Nasal cavity (septum 
and lateral wall) and 
skin of dorsum of nose

Question 26

State the course of the dorsal nasal branch of the ophthalmic artery.

Answer 26

Along dorsal aspect of

nose

Question 27

Which structures does the dorsal nasal supply?

Answer 27

Upper surface of the nose

Question 28

State the course of the supratrochlear branch of the ophthalmic artery.

Answer 28

Passes from supraorbital

margin

Question 29

Which structures does the supratrochlear branch supply?

Answer 29

Forehead and scalp

Question 30

State the course of the infraorbital artery.

Answer 30

• Branch from third part of 
maxillary artery
• Which is a branch from 
External carotid artery.
• Passes on infraorbital
groove and through 
infraorbital foramen

Question 31

Which structures does the infraorbital artery supply?

Answer 31

Inferior rectus and

inferior oblique

Question 32

Name 2 ophthalmic veins.

Answer 32

Superior and inferior

ophthalmic veins

Question 33

What do the Superior and inferior

ophthalmic veins pass?

Answer 33

The Superior and inferior

ophthalmic veins pass through the superior orbital fissure to reach the cavernous sinus

Question 34

What does the central vein of retina join?

Answer 34

The Central vein of retina may
join ophthalmic veins or
join cavernous sinus
directly

Question 35

What do the vorticose veins drain?

Answer 35

The Vorticose veins drain

vascular layer into inferior

Question 36

What does the scleral venous sinus encircle?

Answer 36

The Scleral venous sinus
encircles the anterior chamber
and drains the aqueous humor.