Blood vessels of the eyeball
Learning objectives
After completing this study unit you will be able to:
- Name the arteries that supply the eyeball.
- Understand the venous drainage of the eyeball.
Watch videos
The eyeball is a spherical sensory organ located in the bony orbit. It is the part of the eye, which participates in transmitting visual stimuli. It receives its main arterial supply via the ophthalmic artery that gives off several branches. The venous drainage occurs via the central retinal, superior ophthalmic, inferior ophthalmic, and middle ophthalmic veins. The veins drain an intricate venous network located between the different layers of the eyeball.
The following video will provide you with an overview of the blood vessels of the eyeball.
Take a quiz
Now that you have watched the video, test your acquired knowledge with our quiz.
For a broader overview, take our custom quiz about the orbit and its contents, and choose the topics or individual terms that you want to be tested on.
Browse atlas
:watermark(/images/watermark_5000_10percent.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/overview_image/594/o49INnuiK9m8O9JjCf62lw_blood-vessels-of-the-eye_english.jpg){kind=logo}
Explore the arteries and veins of the eyeball in this atlas gallery:
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/arteria-ophthalmica-2/rlvJYxfXaCeUtxS4MCygA_A._ophtalmica_01.png "Ophthalmic artery (Arteria ophthalmica); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/arteria-centralis-retinae-3/sk2mjcRW0vveVs5l0ocq2w_A._centralis_retinae_01.png "Central retinal artery (Arteria centralis retinae); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/anterior-ciliary-arteries/GwwhbTK0IiPjZKUh8ML8pg_A._ciliaris_anterior_02.png "Anterior ciliary arteries (Arteriae ciliares anteriores); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/muscular-branches-of-ophthalmic-artery-2/Bzbogpu8LAjtwkWWMPg6w_A._muscularis_02.png "Muscular branches of ophthalmic artery (Rami musculares arteriae ophthalmicae); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/arteriae-ciliares-posteriores-longae/tgoGyigu0r0ZaxFKQqhbw_A._ciliaris_posterior_longa_01.png "Long posterior ciliary arteries (Arteriae ciliares posteriores longae); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/arteriae-ciliares-posteriores-breves/9VYH66zOEkVmBFKH0QJA_Aa._ciliares_posteriores_breves_01.png "Short posterior ciliary arteries (Arteriae ciliares posteriores breves); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/circulus-arteriosus-major-iridis/X2Eu5xk6vHzafmMW7bQRg_Circulus_arteriosus_major_iridis_01.png "Major arterial circle of iris (Circulus arteriosus major iridis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/circulus-arteriosus-minor-iridis/4jTIgU0cSpJfHPe7Mdxw_Circulus_arteriosus_minor_iridis_01.png "Minor arterial circle of iris (Circulus arteriosus minor iridis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/venae-vorticosae-2/YKvoyJAW0stlFw34WH0vlg_V._vorticosa_01.png "Vorticose veins (Venae vorticosae); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/bulbus-venae-vorticosae/g5NESBEMyZBPfWeUAP6xw_Bulbus_v._vorticosae_01.png "Bulb of vorticose vein (Bulbus venae vorticosae); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Arterial supply |
Branches of ophthalmic artery: Central retinal artery Anterior ciliary arteries Short and long posterior ciliary arteries Episcleral artery Muscular branches |
| Venous drainage | Central retinal vein, vorticose veins, anterior ciliary veins, episcleral and muscular veins drain into superior and inferior ophthalmic veins. |
Well done!
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