PURPOSE The ophthalmic artery (OA) has one of the most complex anatomy and the most fascinating embryological development. METHODS The complexity of the embryologic development of the OA resides in the implication of three different embryological systems: the carotid system, the stapedial system, and the ventral pharyngeal system. RESULTS This explains very well the numerous variations in origin of the OA and the importance of vascular anastomoses developed with branches of the external carotid artery and with the middle meningeal artery. CONCLUSION In this review, authors propose a comprehensive description of different hypotheses on the embryologic development of the OA and, in a second part, explain all anatomical variations and clinical implications of this artery.

中文翻译：

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眼科动脉的胚胎学和解剖学变化。

目的眼动脉（OA）具有最复杂的解剖结构之一，也是最引人入胜的胚胎学发展方向。方法OA胚胎学发育的复杂性在于三个不同胚胎学系统的含义：颈动脉系统，the骨系统和腹咽系统。结果这很好地解释了OA起源的众多变化以及颈外动脉分支和脑膜中动脉形成血管吻合的重要性。结论在这篇综述中，作者提出了关于OA胚胎发育的不同假设的全面描述，并在第二部分中解释了该动脉的所有解剖学变化和临床意义。