Posterior superior alveolar artery

Posterior superior alveolar artery
Posterior superior alveolar artery
	Plan of branches of maxillary artery
	Plan of branches of maxillary artery. (Post. sup. alveolar in lower right.)
Details
Branches	Branches to alveolar canals ; branches to gingiva
Supplies	Molar and premolar teeth ; lining of the maxillary sinus ; gingiva
Identifiers
Latin	arteria alveolaris superior posterior
TA98	A12.2.05.075
TA2	4444
FMA	49757
	Anatomical terminology [ edit on Wikidata]

Last updated July 19, 2025

The posterior superior alveolar artery (posterior dental artery) is a branch of the maxillary artery.^[1]^[2] It is one of two or three superior alveolar arteries. It provides arterial supply to the molar and premolar teeth, maxillary sinus and adjacent bone, and the gingiva.^[2]

Anatomy

Origin

The artery typically arises from maxillary artery within the pterygopalatine fossa. It frequently arises in conjunction with the infraorbital artery.^[2]

Course

It passes inferior-ward upon the infratemporal surface of maxilla before ramifying.^[2]

Branches

It emits branches that pass through foramina on the posterior aspect of the maxilla alongside the posterior superior alveolar nerves.^[1]

Some branches enter the alveolar canals to supply the upper molar and premolar teeth as well as the maxillary sinus and adjacent bone.^[2]

Some branches pass anterior-ward^{[ citation needed ]} across the alveolar process to supply the gingiva.^[2]

Additional images

Left maxilla. Outer surface.

References

1 2 Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). pp. 362–364. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. p. 653. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 562 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

lesson4 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) ( infratempfossaart )

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[:0223-1] 1 2 Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). pp. 362–364. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.

[:2242-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. p. 653. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

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[2]