The middle meningeal artery (MMA) branches from the internal maxillary artery and is the largest meningeal branch. It passes through the foramen spinosum.
The artery has recently gained prominence through the treatment of chronic subdural hematomas by way of intra-arterial embolization.
The MMA also frequently supplies convexity meningiomas and is used as a route for pre-operative embolization prior to resection.
Figure above: lateral projection angiogram of the left common carotid artery in a patient with left cervical ICA occlusion. The cavernous ICA is reconstituted through collaterals. The cavernous branch of the MMA is seen connecting the MMA to the ILT.
A. Middle Meningeal Artery in lateral projection demonstrating anastomosis with the dural arterial system with scalp vessels (arrow). B. Venous phase of ICA injection demonstrating an emissary vein (arrow) through the same channel connecting a subgaleal vein to the superior sagittal sinus.1
References:
1. Lasjaunias P, Berenstein A, Brugge KT. Clinical Vascular Anatomy and Variations. Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 2001.