A patient with recurrent severe epistaxis fails anterior nasal packing. The artery most commonly responsible, a terminal branch of the maxillary artery, is ligated endoscopically. Which artery is this?

• A Greater palatine artery
• B Ascending pharyngeal artery
• C Anterior ethmoidal artery
• D Sphenopalatine artery ✓

Explanation

The sphenopalatine artery is the terminal branch of the third part of the maxillary artery. It enters the nasal cavity through the sphenopalatine foramen and supplies the posterolateral wall and septum, and it is the usual source of posterior epistaxis. The greater palatine artery contributes to the septum via the incisive canal but is smaller, the anterior ethmoidal artery causes anterior bleeds near Kiesselbach's area, and the ascending pharyngeal artery arises from the external carotid and does not supply the nose.

Reference: Gray's Anatomy for Students, 4th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.