IJAR.2021.127

Type of Article:  Case Report

Volume 9; Issue 2.3 (June 2021)

Page No.: 8008-8011

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2021.127

Maxillary Artery runs medial to the mandibular nerve unilaterally: Case report and Literature Review

Yonatan Schwartz 1, Vindhya J. Rao 1, Lesly Sanchez Alvarez 1, Benjamin Wajsberg 1, Priti Mishall 1, Sherry A. Downie 1, Adi Pinkas *1.

1  Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, F620S, Bronx, NY 10461

Corresponding Author: Adi Pinkas, Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, F620S, Bronx, NY 10461 E-Mail: benjamin.wajsberg@einsteinmed.org; adi.pinkas@einsteinmed.org

ABSTRACT

Background: The maxillary artery supplies the deep structures of the face and cranium. The maxillary artery and the mandibular nerve form a clinically important relation in the infratemporal fossa. Variations of the maxillary artery may complicate dental, oral, and maxillofacial surgeries in this region.

Methods: During routine academic dissection of a 91-year-old Caucasian female cadaver, the pterygoid segment of the left maxillary artery was found medial to the posterior division of the mandibular nerve in the infratemporal fossa.

Results: The maxillary artery coursed superior to the point of division of the mandibular nerve and remained undivided.

Conclusion: This rare unilateral variation will be of interest to anatomists and clinicians, as an understanding of anatomical variations of the maxillary artery can help decrease the risk of hemorrhage and other surgical complications.

Key words: Maxillary artery, Mandibular nerve, Lateral pterygoid muscle, Infratemporal Fossa.

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Cite this article: Yonatan Schwartz, Vindhya J. Rao, Lesly Sanchez Alvarez, Benjamin Wajsberg, Priti Mishall, Sherry A. Downie, Adi Pinkas. Maxillary Artery runs medial to the mandibular nerve unilaterally: Case report and Literature Review. Int J Anat Res 2021;9(2.3):8008-8011. DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2021.127