Accessory meningeal artery

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The accessory meningeal artery is a branch of the maxillary artery but can also branch from the middle meningeal artery.

The artery passes upwards through the foramen ovale to supply the trigeminal ganglion and the dura mater of Meckel cave and the middle cranial fossa. It also usually supplies the medial and superior head of the lateral pterygoid muscle. During its course it is closely related to the tensor and levator veli palatini muscles and runs deep to the mandibular nerve.