Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Short ciliary arteries
Introduction
The short posterior ciliary arteries from six to twelve in number, arise from the ophthalmic as it crosses the optic nerve.
They pass forward around the optic nerve to the posterior part of the eyeball, pierce the sclera around the entrance of the optic nerve, and supply the choroid (up to the equator of the eye) and ciliary processes.
Some branches of the short posterior ciliary arteries also supply the optic disc via an anastomotic ring (Circle of Zinn).
Additional images
Additional images
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The terminal portion of the optic nerve and its entrance into the eyeball, in horizontal section.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]