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Updated: Jan 1, 2026

Assessment and Characterization of Hyaloid Vessels in Mice
Published on: May 15, 2019
Embryology and anatomical variations of the ophthalmic artery
Sara Bonasia1, Michel Bojanowski2, Thomas Robert3
1Department of Neurosurgery, Regional Hospital of Lugano, Neurocenter of the Southern Switzerland, Via Tesserete 46, CH-6903, Lugano, Switzerland.
Purpose:
The ophthalmic artery (OA) has one of the most complex anatomy and the most fascinating embryological development.
Methods:
The complexity of the embryologic development of the OA resides in the implication of three different embryological systems: the carotid system, the stapedial system, and the ventral pharyngeal system.
Results:
This explains very well the numerous variations in origin of the OA and the importance of vascular anastomoses developed with branches of the external carotid artery and with the middle meningeal artery.
Conclusion:
In this review, authors propose a comprehensive description of different hypotheses on the embryologic development of the OA and, in a second part, explain all anatomical variations and clinical implications of this artery.
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