Description of publications
Likely the earliest mention of the SA was in an article published in 1971 [
4]. This article was not reviewed as no copy could be obtained.
Vignaud et al. [
33] in 1972 states “we must stress the importance of the sphenoidal artery which links the middle meningeal and lacrimal arteries. This branch crosses the sphenoidal fissure”. On a single lateral radiograph of a common carotid cerebral angiogram, this article points to a small short arterial segment near the MMA, that the authors name the SA. This radiograph was not accompanied by a diagram. As none of the references listed in this article were cited within the article, it is not clear if the SA name came from a previous publication.
A 1974 article by Vignaud et al. [
34] states that “The lacrimal artery sometimes originates from the middle meningeal artery via the sphenoidal branch instead of from the ophthalmic artery”. This article cites the previous 1972 article [
33] and does not include diagrams or cerebral angiograms depicting the SA.
A 1975 article by Lasjaunias et al. [
18] describes the SA as visible during selective external carotid artery injections, originating from the MMA anteriorly in the middle cranial fossa having 2 bends before entering the orbit either through the SOF or HC. Parts of it are difficult to visualize on angiography because of its proximity to bone.
The frequently cited 1975 article by Lasjaunias et al. [
17] discussing the SA, includes the following statements:
1.
“the recurrent meningeal … and the meningolacrimal artery (less preferably named the sphenoidal artery}”
2.
“the recurrent meningeal artery connects the lacrimal artery with the anterior branch of the middle meningeal artery via the superior orbital fissure.”
3.
“The Meningolacrimal Artery (Sphenoidal Artery)”
4.
“the meningolacrimal artery before it reaches the lesser wing of the sphenoid bone. It then runs transversely and enters the orbit through the canal of Hyrtl (meningolacrimal foramen)”.
This frequently cited article does not cite any references relating to the SA or cerebral angiograms depicting the SA. This article mentions several times that the meningolacrimal (sphenoidal artery) supplies a portion or of the lacrimal territory. The articles by Lasjaunias et al. [
20] and Merland et al. [
23] schematically show a “sphenoidal branch” of the MMA which runs along the lesser wing of the sphenoid bone, taking part in the dural vascularization of the superior surface of the lesser wing of the sphenoid and middle fossa. The legend of one of these schematic drawings notes that the sphenoidal branch of the MMA is anastomotic with the lacrimal artery (LA) [
20]. It is unclear if the “sphenoidal branch” discussed in these articles is the same as the SA.
It is of interest that in view of the frequent citations and referencing of the article by Lasjaunias et al. [
17], the term SA does not reappear in any of the subsequent articles and books authored or coauthored by Lasjaunias. The term SA is not used by Hayreh and Dass [
15] or by Dorcas Padget in her extensive study of the arterial development of the human embryo.
Ducasse et al. [
6] note that when there is persistence of the middle segment of the supra orbital branch of the stapedial artery, it will result in the formation of “an anastomosis between the LA and MMA arteries which is referred to by many authors as the sphenoidal artery”, A figure legend in this article states “an anastomotic meningolacrimal ramus, referred to as the sphenoidal artery”
. This article includes a photograph of a dissection showing a very short segment of the “Sphenoidal artery” originating from the MMA and entering the orbit, apparently though HC. In another article, Ducasse et al. [
7] mention, in the French summary, that the SA is another name for the meningolacrimal (MLA) anastomotic branch, This article includes a photograph of a dissection showing a very short segment of the “Sphenoidal artery” originating from the LA. Thus, both articles follow the Lasjaunias et al. [
17] definition.
Gregg et al. [
12], similarly to Lasjaunias et al. [
17] definition, note that “the meningolacrimal or sphenoidal artery” may become a collateral supply from the MMA for the ICA or OA in cases of ICA occlusion.
Diamond [
5] significantly expanded the discussion of the SA. When quoting the Lasjaunias et al. 1975 article [
17], Diamond’s article changed the definition of the SA, In the 1975 Lasjaunias article[
17], Diamond’s publication stated that “…… henceforth referred to as the sphenoidal artery again after Lasjaunias et al. (1975), who also referred to it as the ‘recurrent meningeal artery”. The above quotation is different from the description in the 1975 Lasjaunias et al. [
17] article.
This changed definition is also used by Gailloud et al. [
10] that extensively depicts the
SA in the text, as well as schematic representations, and detailed high-resolution superselective cerebral angiograms. It again cites the 1975 Lasjaunias et al. [
17] article and states “one connecting branch is short and straight; it crosses the foramen of Hyrtl (or cranio-orbital foramen) and takes the name, meningolacrimal artery. The other is long and tortuous; passes through the superior orbital fissure (SOF) and takes the name sphenoidal artery.” In the text and legends of some of the schematic representations, the MLA and the SA are mentioned as separate arteries.
Macchi et al. [
21] in describing the anatomy of the canals connecting the orbit with the cranial cavity note that in cases where the embryonic stapedial artery gives off the lacrimal artery in the cranial cavity, this results in direct communication between the MMA and the OA through the SOF which in the adult “is referred to as the meningo-ophthalmic or sphenoidal artery”.
Bonasia et al. [
1] in a review of the stapedial artery note that in the embryologic development of the inferolateral trunk of the stapedial artery… “the lacrimal artery (sphenoidal artery}, which penetrates the orbit through the superior orbital fissure.” The article also includes a superselective angiographic figure of an OA arising from the MMA, via the “sphenoidal artery”. Later in the same article the authors state that “the medial branch (referring to the stapedial artery) passing through the superior orbital fissure is named the recurrent meningeal artery in its intraorbital segment and sphenoidal artery in its intracranial segment.”
In an accompanying review of the MMA, Bonasia et al. [
2] in a diagrammatic representation of the anastomoses of the MMA, depict the SA and the meningolacrimal artery as communicating with the lacrimal artery. In a table listing the branches of the MMA, the SA is described as possibly anastomosing with the recurrent meningeal branch of the OA and the inferolateral trunk of the ICA.
Several highly detailed dissections of the vascularity of adult cadaveric orbital specimens have been published [
8,
22,
26,
27]. None of these published dissections outline the entire SA or include cerebral angiograms.
Martins et al. [
22] list the SA as a branch of both the LA and the medial branch of the anterior division of the MMA. The authors note that the “RMA (sphenoidal)” runs in the sphenoparietal sulcus with the sphenoparietal sinus. The presence of both the MLA and the “RMA-or SA” is identified in the same orbital dissection, noting dual connection between the MMA and the LA. The authors identify the MLA and the tortuous RMA and note that the former passes through the lacrimal canal (HC) and the latter through the SOF.
Perrini et al. [
26] state “This branch originating from the MMA has been referred to as a RMA, orbital branch, or sphenoidal artery of the MMA”.
Pretterklieber and Krammer [
27] describe a dissected adult specimen with an absent foramen spinosum and the MMA was replaced by the “sphenoidal artery” a branch of the OA. The “sphenoidal artery” enters the middle cranial fossa through the SOF where it replaced the MMA. The authors name this artery as the ophthalmic-meningeal artery (OMM).
Erdogmus and Govsa [
8] citing Diamond [
5] but not Lasjaunias et al. [
17], in a dissection study of the arterial supply of the lacrimal gland note that the RMA which is also called the SA passes through the SOF while the other MMA branch is known as the meningo-orbital or MLA passes through the cranio-orbital foramen. These authors refer to the
SA as the anastomotic artery. This likely is the same artery named the ramus anastomoticus cum arteria lacrimali.
Konishi and Kikuchi [
16] analyzed variations of the ramus anastomoticus cum a. lacrimali in 300 orbits. Konishi and Kikuchi article [
16] includes photographs of a detailed dissection demonstrating the ICA, OA, LA and the ramus anastomoticus cum a. lacrimali. It is not clear from the review if the ramus enters the orbit through the SOF or HC.