Alaluolikanavan

Alaluolikanavan, in anatomical Finnish usage, refers to the infraorbital canal, a bony passage within the maxillary bone that transmits the infraorbital nerve and accompanying blood vessels from the infraorbital groove to the infraorbital foramen. In Finnish medical terminology the canonical term is alaluolakanava, and alaluolikanavan is the genitive form meaning “of the infraorbital canal.”

Anatomy and relationships: The canal lies in the orbital floor portion of the maxilla, beginning at the infraorbital groove and continuing anteriorly and slightly laterally as the infraorbital canal. It may be wholly within the bone or partly enclosed by the maxillary sinus in some individuals. The canal ends at the infraorbital foramen on the facial surface of the maxilla, through which structures exit to the midface.

Contents and function: The infraorbital canal houses the infraorbital nerve, a branch of the maxillary nerve (V2), along with the infraorbital artery and vein. The infraorbital nerve provides sensory innervation to the midface region, including the lower eyelid, side of the nose, upper lip, and cheek. The vessels supply surrounding facial structures.

Clinical significance: The canal is relevant in orbital and maxillofacial surgery, dental anesthesia, and trauma. Fractures of the orbital floor or maxillary region can affect the canal, potentially causing numbness or paresthesia in its dermatome. Infraorbital nerve blocks are performed for regional anesthesia by targeting the nerve near the infraorbital foramen.

Terminology: While alaluolikanavan is the Finnish form, English-language texts refer to the infraorbital canal. The term’s use reflects the anatomical location within the orbital floor and its neurovascular contents.