The middle meningeal artery is a branch of the maxillary artery, which is itself a branch of the external carotid artery. The middle meningeal artery typically divides into two main branches: the anterior and posterior divisions.
The anterior division of the middle meningeal artery is the larger of the two divisions. It typically runs forward and upwards along the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, supplying blood to the dura mater (the outermost layer of the meninges) and the bones of the skull.
This branch also provides a crucial supply to the meninges and the epidural space, and it plays a significant role in the blood supply to the frontal and parietal lobes of the brain. Additionally, it is an important clinical landmark due to its course over the pterion, a vulnerable area of the skull where it can be susceptible to injury in traumatic head injuries, leading to epidural hematomas.V