Maxillary artery: anatomical landmarks and relationship with the mandibular subcondyle
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
Three-Dimensional Cephalometric Landmark Annotation Demonstration on Human Cone Beam Computed Tomography Scans
Published on: September 8, 2023
Hakan Orbay1, Metin Kerem, Ramazan Erkin Ünlü
1Ankara, Turkey From the Second Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, and Department of Anatomy, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine.
Background:
The maxillary artery can be injured during procedures in the subcondylar portion of the mandible. Thorough knowledge of this region is mandatory to avoid accidental puncture of the maxillary artery, which can lead to profuse bleeding that is hard to control.
Methods:
In 16 halves of eight embalmed cadaver heads, the maxillary artery was dissected from the branching point to the entrance point to the maxillary sinus. Its anatomical relationships with certain landmarks were recorded numerically.
Results:
The mean distance of the branching point of the maxillary artery to the tragal pointer was 16.2 mm (range, 14.97 to 16.80 mm) in the horizontal plane and 21.4 mm (range, 19.14 to 23.53 mm) in the vertical plane. The mean vertical distance of the branching point to the Frankfort horizontal plane was 25.7 mm (range, 24.86 to 27.47 mm). The mean distance of the branching point of the maxillary artery to the tip of the condyle was 22.4 mm (range, 21.66 to 23.99 mm). The mean distance of the artery to the medial border of the subcondylar portion of the mandible was 6.8 mm (range, 4.06 to 8.47 mm). The mean distance between the deepest point of the sigmoid notch and the junction of the maxillary artery and sigmoid notch was 5.1 mm (range, 4.97 to 5.95 mm). The mean distance of the maxillary artery-sigmoid notch junction to the tragal pointer was 22.9 mm (range, 20.95 to 25.05 mm).
Conclusions:
The maxillary artery can be injured during surgical procedures performed in the temporomandibular region. Its relationship with the subcondylar portion of the mandible varies.
Related Concept Videos
01:10The Arch of Aorta
Encircling the heart, the coronary arteries form a ring-like structure before...
01:26Arteries of the Head and Neck
The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the anterior portion of the cerebrum. They enter the...
01:27Cranial Bones: Lateral View
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
01:14Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...
01:21Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.
01:12Arteries of the Upper Limbs