Posterior ischemic optic neuropathy. I. Blood supply of the optic nerve.

The blood supply of the posterior optic nerve was investigated in 10 monkeys after an injection of synthetic resin into the carotid arteries. The posterior intraorbital and intracanalicular optic nerves were supplied by a centripetal vascular system, formed by the pial vessels arising from the first branches of the ophthalmic artery. Superior and inferior vascular semicircles were detected in the intracanalicular optic nerve. The intracranial optic nerve was supplied by branches of the internal carotid artery, anterior cerebral artery and/or anterior communicating artery, and ophthalmic artery.