{{Short description|Artery of the face}} {{Infobox artery | Name = Angular artery | Latin = arteria angularis | Image = Gray515.png | Caption = Blood vessels of the eyelids, front view. 1, supraorbital artery and supraorbital vein; 2, nasal artery; 3, '''angular artery''', the terminal branch of 4, the facial artery; 5, suborbital artery; 6, anterior branch of the superficial temporal artery; 6’, malar branch of the transverse artery of the face; 7, lacrimal artery; 8, superior palpebral artery with 8’, its external arch; 9, anastomoses of the superior palpebral with the superficial temporal and lacrimal; 10, inferior palpebral artery; 11, facial vein; 12, angular vein; 13, branch of the superficial temporal vein. | Image2 = Gray508.png | Caption2 = The arteries of the face and scalp (angular artery labeled at center right) | BranchFrom = Facial artery | BranchTo = | Vein = Angular vein | Supplies =Lacrimal sac, orbicularis oculi muscle }}
The '''angular artery''' is an artery of the face. It is the terminal part of the facial artery. It ascends to the medial angle of the eye's orbit. It is accompanied by the angular vein. It ends by anastomosing with the dorsal nasal branch of the ophthalmic artery. It supplies the lacrimal sac, the orbicularis oculi muscle, and the outer side of the nose.
== Structure == The angular artery is the terminal part of the facial artery.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Scremin|first=Oscar U.|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123742452000310|title=The Rat Nervous System|publisher=Academic Press|year=2015|isbn=978-0-12-374245-2|edition=4th|pages=985–1011|language=en|chapter=31 - Cerebral Vascular System|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-374245-2.00031-0}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Remington|first=Lee Ann|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781437719260100116|title=Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of the Visual System|publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann|year=2012|isbn=978-1-4377-1926-0|edition=3rd|pages=202–217|language=en|chapter=11 - Orbital Blood Supply|doi=10.1016/B978-1-4377-1926-0.10011-6}}</ref> It ascends to the medial angle of the eye's orbit (the medial canthus).<ref name=":1" /> It is embedded in the fibers of the angular head of the levator labii superioris muscle.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}} It is accompanied by the angular vein. On the cheek, it distributes branches which anastomose with the infraorbital artery.<ref name=":1" /> It ends by anastomosing with the dorsal nasal branch of the ophthalmic artery.
== Function == The angular artery supplies the lacrimal sac,<ref name=":1" /> most of the outer side of the nose,<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last1=Ort|first1=Yirae|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702060564000836|title=Maxillofacial Surgery|last2=Quereshy|first2=Faisal A.|publisher=Churchill Livingstone|year=2017|isbn=978-0-7020-6056-4|edition=3rd|volume=2|pages=1257–1278|language=en|chapter=83 - Basic Rhinoplasty|doi=10.1016/B978-0-7020-6056-4.00083-6}}</ref> part of the lower eyelid,<ref name=":1" /> and the orbicularis oculi muscle.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}
== Clinical significance == The angular artery is important in a nasolabial skin flap for reconstructive surgery.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Markiewicz|first1=Michael R.|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702060564000447|title=Maxillofacial Surgery|last2=Ord|first2=Robert|last3=Fernandes|first3=Rui P.|publisher=Churchill Livingstone|year=2017|isbn=978-0-7020-6056-4|volume=1|pages=616–635|language=en|chapter=43 - Local and Regional Flap Reconstruction of Maxillofacial Defects|doi=10.1016/B978-0-7020-6056-4.00044-7}}</ref> It can be put at risk during acupuncture of skin around the inner side of the eye.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Focks|first1=Claudia|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780443100284500072|title=Atlas of Acupuncture|last2=März|first2=Ulrich|publisher=Churchill Livingstone|year=2008|isbn=978-0-443-10028-4|pages=223–241|language=en|chapter=4 - Acupuncture Points of the Twelve Primary Channels|doi=10.1016/B978-044310028-4.50007-2}}</ref>
== Additional images == <gallery> Image:Lateral head anatomy detail.jpg|Lateral head anatomy detail Image:Head ap anatomy.jpg|Head anatomy anterior view </gallery>
== References == {{Gray's}} <references />
== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311004204/http://www.stchas.edu/divisions/aao/ace/science/modelpics/circulatory/head.shtml Diagram at stchas.edu]
{{Arteries of head and neck}} {{Portal bar|Anatomy}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Arteries of the head and neck Category:Human head and neck Category:Otorhinolaryngology Category:Cardiovascular system