Home › Body Atlas › Vessels › Anterior Ethmoid Artery

Anterior Ethmoid Artery

arteria ethmoidalis anterior

The anterior ethmoid artery (AEA) arises from the ophthalmic artery within the orbit, passes through the anterior ethmoid canal to enter the anterior cranial fossa, then descends through a slit in the cribriform plate to enter the nasal cavity where it supplies the anterior lateral nasal wall and the anterior nasal septum. The AEA passes over the roof of the ethmoid labyrinth at a critical surgical level approximately 15 mm posterior to the anterior lacrimal crest.

Region: Head & Skull

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

The AEA is a critical landmark in endoscopic sinus surgery: it crosses the ethmoid roof at the anterior skull base, and identifying it prevents inadvertent entry into the anterior cranial fossa during FESS. The Keros classification grades the depth of the olfactory fossa relative to the AEA level (types 1-3), with deeper olfactory fossae (Keros 3) having higher skull base penetration risk. The AEA also supplies the anterior portion of the nasal septum contributing to Kiesselbach's plexus epistaxis zone. In anterior skull base tumour resection, the AEA is one of the vascular markers of the anterior limit of the cribriform plate.

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Anterior Ethmoid Artery Injury Causing Orbital Haematoma in FESS

Inadvertent division of the anterior ethmoid artery during endoscopic ethmoidectomy close to the anterior skull base allows the vessel to retract into the orbit, producing a rapidly expanding orbital haematoma with proptosis and vision loss; immediate lateral canthotomy and cantholysis decompresses the orbit and orbital haematoma evacuation may be required to preserve vision.