Anatomy of the posterior and middle ethmoidal arteries via computed tomography

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the anatomy of the posterior and middle ethmoidal arteries from the viewpoint of an endoscopic sinus surgeon. METHODS: Based on 100 computed tomography images, the anatomical position of the posterior ethmoidal artery in relation to the posterior ethmoid cells was classified into five types. The presence of the posterior and middle ethmoidal arteries, their distance from the skull base, and their length exposed in the ethmoid cells were measured. The association of patients’ age and sex, presence of the middle ethmoidal artery, and anatomical type of the posterior ethmoidal artery with the posterior ethmoidal artery distance from the ethmoid roof was analyzed. RESULTS: The posterior ethmoidal artery’s position, relative to the ethmoid cell walls, was most often near the first wall, anterior to the optic canal (92.5%). The posterior ethmoidal artery’s distance from the skull base ranged from 0 to 6.4 mm (mean: 1.2 mm). Older age, longer length of the posterior ethmoidal artery exposed in the ethmoid cells, and absence of the middle ethmoidal artery were positively associated with a longer posterior ethmoidal artery distance from the skull base. CONCLUSION: Attention should be paid to the posterior and middle ethmoidal arteries.