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Mnemonics, Simplified Concepts & Thoughts

maxillary artery

Maxillary Artery : Mnemonic

Epomedicine, Oct 16, 2017Aug 23, 2023

Last updated on August 23, 2023

Origin of Maxillary artery: Terminal branch of External Carotid Artery (ECA)

Derived from: 1st Arch

Divisions of Maxillary artery: 3 parts by lateral pterygoid

  1. 1st part (Mandibular part): winds around deep to neck of mandible
  2. 2nd part (Pterygoid part): travels between 2 heads of lateral pterygoid
  3. 3rd part (Pterygopalatine part): enters pterygopalatine fossa containing pterygopalatine galnglion
maxillary artery branches
Henry Vandyke Carter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Branches of Maxillary artery

Remember:

  1. Each of the 3 divisions gives off 5 branches.
  2. Mandibular artery, i.e. Inferior alveolar artery is a branch of maxillary artery
  3. 2nd part: Branches supply muscles of mastication and do not cross through foramina in bones (all branches from 1st and 3rd part do cross)

Branches from 1st part

Mnemonic: Mandibular part gives off branches to 5 “M“s and the branches can be remembered as “DAMIA“

  1. Meatus (External auditory meatus) – Deep auricular
  2. Membrane (tympanic membrane) – Anterior tympanic
  3. Meninges and mater (duramater) – Medial meningeal
  4. Mandible – Inferior alveolar
  5. Meckel’s cave – Accessory meningeal

Clinical significance: Middle meningeal artery (MMA) injury results in Extradural hematoma (EDH). Auriculotemporal nerve wraps around it.

Branches from the 2nd part

Mnemonic: They supply muscles of mastication which are also derivatives of the 1st arch.

  1. Posterior deep temporal artery: Temporalis
  2. Pterygoid artery: Lateral and medial pterygoids
  3. Masseteric artery: Masseter
  4. Buccinator artery: Buccinator
  5. Anterior deep temporal artery: Temporalis

Branches from the 3rd part

Mnemonic: Remember the 5 “P“s

  1. Posterior superior alveolar artery: Maxilla
  2. Pterygoid canal artery: Upper part of pharynx and tympanic cavity
  3. Palatine – Descending palatine artery: Gives off greater and lesser palatine artery and supplies hard and soft palate respectively
  4. Palatine – Sphenopalatine or Nasopalatine artery: Nasal cavity
  5. Pharyngeal artery: Pharynx

There’s one more branch from the 3rd part, i.e. Infraorbital artery which gives off Anterior and Middle Superior Alveolar Artery.

Clinical significance: Sphenopalatine artery is a common cause of posterior epistaxis and may need ESPAL (Endoscopic Sphenopalatine Artery Ligation).

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PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS AnatomyCardiovascular system

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Comments (4)

  1. Zubbie says:
    May 3, 2018 at 1:55 pm

    This was super helpful!!! Thanks! God bless whoever shared this.

    Reply
  2. Ayesha haroon says:
    Jul 27, 2019 at 3:27 pm

    Beautifully explained…starred this website in my browser..thanks a lot

    Reply
  3. Zokagon K Mahnlugbae says:
    Jan 20, 2023 at 6:19 am

    Thanks so much for these mnemonics. I’m done with this part of my lesson already, in just 5minutes

    Reply
  4. Enough says:
    Sep 14, 2024 at 6:30 pm

    Thank you so much.

    Reply

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Epomedicine. Maxillary Artery : Mnemonic [Internet]. Epomedicine; 2017 Oct 16 [cited 2025 May 29]. Available from: https://epomedicine.com/medical-students/maxillary-artery-mnemonic/.

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