The sphenopalatine artery is the terminal branch of the maxillary artery and the main artery of the nasal cavity. It passes from the pterygopalatine fossa through the sphenopalatine foramen into the back of the nose. There it divides into posterior lateral nasal arteries for the side wall and posterior septal branches for the septum.
| Origin | Terminal branch of the maxillary artery in the pterygopalatine fossa |
|---|---|
| Course | Passes through the sphenopalatine foramen into the posterior nasal cavity behind the middle turbinate and divides into lateral and septal branches |
| Branches |
|
The sphenopalatine artery is the main source of posterior nosebleeds (epistaxis), which are heavier and harder to control than the common anterior bleeds from Kiesselbach plexus. Persistent posterior epistaxis is treated by endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation or cautery, or by embolisation through the maxillary artery. Its septal branch is also the pedicle of the nasoseptal flap used to repair the skull base after endoscopic surgery.
Bleeding from branches of the sphenopalatine artery at the back of the nose, often in older patients with hypertension or on blood thinners, may need posterior packing, endoscopic ligation or embolisation.
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