ögonartär

The ophthalmic artery, known in Swedish as the ögonartär, is a crucial blood vessel supplying oxygenated blood to the eye and its surrounding structures. It is the first major branch of the internal carotid artery, arising shortly after the carotid artery enters the skull through the carotid canal.

The ögonartär travels anteriorly and medially within the orbit, passing through the optic canal alongside the optic nerve. Its complex branching pattern ensures comprehensive vascularization. Key branches include the central retinal artery, which penetrates the optic nerve to supply the inner layers of the retina, and ciliary arteries that nourish the uvea and sclera.

Other important branches include the lacrimal artery, which supplies the lacrimal gland and parts of the eyelid, and muscular arteries that feed the extraocular muscles responsible for eye movement. The ögonartär also gives rise to supraorbital and supratrochlear arteries, which supply the forehead and scalp.

Disruptions to blood flow in the ögonartär can have severe consequences for vision. Conditions such as emboli, atherosclerosis, or inflammatory diseases affecting the artery can lead to visual impairment or blindness. Imaging techniques like Doppler ultrasound and angiography are used to assess the health and patency of the ögonartär.