MICROSURGICAL ANATOMY OF THE HUMAN OPHTHALMIC ARTERY - A MESOSCOPIC STUDY OF ITS ORIGIN, COURSE AND COLLATERAL BRANCHES

In the present paper we have studied the gross (mesoscopic) anatomy of the ophthalmic a. in humans, using magnification by microsurgical sys tems to obtain data on the origin and course of this artery and its ma in collateral branches. Comparison of our results with previous report s indicates that, although the anatomical variations of the vascular s ystem are well known, some patterns of frequency may be emphasised. Th us, the ophthalmic a. was usually found as a collateral branch of the internal carotid a., although other origins were also found. The ophth almic a., once inside the orbit, followed a course above the optic ner ve in most cases. All the collateral branches of the ophthalmic a., wi th the exception of the muscular branches, showed great constancy.