Division of Neurological Surgery, Neurosurgery Research Laboratory, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona 85013, USA.
Neurosurgery. 2009 Dec;65(6 Suppl):114-20; discussion 120. doi: 10.1227/01.NEU.0000339172.78949.5B.
The ascending pharyngeal artery (APA), a branch of the external carotid artery (ECA), supplies the lower cranial nerves, superior cervical ganglion, and nasopharyngeal structures. The APA can also supply blood to various intracranial lesions. We studied the anatomy of the APA in the context of its neurosurgical and endovascular relevance.
The cervical origin, branching pattern, and course of the APA were studied in 20 human cadaveric craniocervical sides. The diameter of the APA, the extension of its main trunk, and the distance of its origin from the common carotid artery bifurcation were measured. The relationships between the APA and surrounding structures were also observed.
In 80% of the specimens, the APA originated from the ECA. It originated from its medial wall in 56% and from the posterior wall in 44%. The APA originated from the internal carotid artery, common carotid artery bifurcation, occipital artery, and a trunk common to the lingual and facial arteries in 5% each. The APA was usually the third branch of the ECA (40%). The mean distance from the origin of the APA to the common carotid artery bifurcation was 15.3 mm (range, 0-32; standard deviation, +/- 8.3 mm). The APA was frequently the second smallest branch of the ECA (caliber, 1.54 mm; range, 1.1-2.1; standard deviation, +/- 0.25 mm).
The APA is an important channel for supplying neural structures of the posterior fossa. Knowledge of its anatomy, variants, and anastomotic channels is essential in the treatment of lesions supplied by its branches and to avoid complications related to its inadvertent injury.
咽升动脉（APA）是颈外动脉（ECA）的分支，为颅神经、颈上神经节和鼻咽结构提供血液。APA 还可以为各种颅内病变提供血液。我们研究了 APA 的解剖结构，以了解其在神经外科和血管内治疗中的相关性。
我们在 20 个人体头颅颈部标本中研究了 APA 的颈部分支、分支模式和走行。测量了 APA 的直径、主干的延伸范围以及其起源点与颈总动脉分叉的距离。还观察了 APA 与周围结构的关系。
在 80%的标本中，APA 起源于 ECA。56%起源于其内侧壁，44%起源于后壁。APA 起源于颈内动脉、颈总动脉分叉、枕动脉和舌动脉与面动脉共干的比例分别为 5%。APA 通常是 ECA 的第三个分支（40%）。APA 起源点到颈总动脉分叉的平均距离为 15.3mm（范围 0-32mm；标准差 +/-8.3mm）。APA 是 ECA 第二小的分支（口径 1.54mm；范围 1.1-2.1mm；标准差 +/-0.25mm）。
APA 是供应颅后窝神经结构的重要通道。了解其解剖结构、变异和吻合通道对于治疗由其分支供应的病变以及避免与无意中损伤相关的并发症至关重要。
