transmit the middle meningeal artery
The middle meningeal artery (MMA) is transmitted through the foramen spinosum, a small aperture located in the greater wing of the sphenoid bone. This artery is a branch of the maxillary artery, which is itself a branch of the external carotid artery.
The middle meningeal artery enters the middle cranial fossa through the foramen spinosum and runs along the inner surface of the skull, within the dura mater, the outermost layer of the meninges (the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord).
The MMA supplies blood to various structures within the cranial cavity, including the meninges, bones of the skull, and parts of the brain. It is particularly important for providing vascular support to the dura mater and the structures it surrounds. Additionally, the MMA also contributes to the blood supply of the inner ear and nearby structures.
The transmission of the middle meningeal artery through the foramen spinosum is clinically significant because injuries to this artery, such as fractures of the skull that disrupt the foramen spinosum, can lead to epidural hematomas, a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by bleeding between the dura mater and the skull.