Carotid canal Carotid canal The carotid canal is the passageway in the temporal bone through which the internal carotid artery enters the middle cranial fossa from the neck. The canal starts on the inferior surface of the temporal bone at the external opening of the carotid canal (also referred to as the carotid foramen). The canal ascends at first superiorly, and then, making a bend, runs anteromedially. The canal's internal opening is near the foramen lacerum, above which the internal carotid artery passes on its way anteriorly to the cavernous sinus. The carotid canal allows the internal carotid artery to pass into
Long posterior ciliary arteries pupillary margin, where they form a second (incomplete) arterial circle, the circulus arteriosus minor. The long posterior ciliary arteries supply the iris, ciliary body and choroid. Long posterior ciliary arteries The long posterior ciliary arteries are arteries of the head arising, together with the other ciliary arteries, from the ophthalmic artery. There are two in each eye. They pierce the posterior part of the sclera at some little distance from the optic nerve, and run forward, along either side of the eyeball, between the sclera and choroid, to the ciliary muscle, where they divide into two branches. These form an