Question #691

The middle meningeal artery arises from the first part of the maxillary artery as it passes through the infratemporal fossa. From here the artery passes superiorly between the two roots of the auriculotemporal nerve and through the foramen spinosum to enter the middle cranial fossa.

Intracranially the artery divides into anterior and posterior divisions with the anterior division crossing the internal aspect of the pterion and therefore most at risk of tearing following a fracture at this delicate area.

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