Sphenopalatine artery
Plan of branches of internal maxillary artery. (Sphenopalatine visible in upper right.)
Details
Source	maxillary artery
Branches	posterior lateral nasal branches posterior septal branches
Supplies	frontal, maxillary, ethmoidal, and sphenoidal sinuses
Identifiers
Latin	arteria sphenopalatina
TA98	A12.2.05.088
TA2	4460
FMA	49804
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The sphenopalatine artery (nasopalatine artery) is an artery of the head, commonly known as the artery of epistaxis.^[1] It passes through the sphenopalatine foramen to reach the nasal cavity. It is the main artery of the nasal cavity.^[2]

Course

The sphenopalatine artery is a branch of the maxillary artery which passes through the sphenopalatine foramen into the cavity of the nose, at the back part of the superior meatus. Here it gives off its posterior lateral nasal branches.

Crossing the under surface of the sphenoid, the sphenopalatine artery ends on the nasal septum as the posterior septal branches. Here it will anastomose with the branches of the greater palatine artery.

Clinical significance

The sphenopalatine artery is the artery responsible for the most serious, posterior nosebleeds (also known as epistaxis). It can be ligated surgically or blocked under image guidance with minimally invasive techniques by interventional radiologist using tiny microparticles to control such nosebleeds.