Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas are primarily supplied by which artery?

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas are vascular tumors that predominantly occur in adolescent males, often presenting with nasal obstruction or epistaxis. The primary blood supply to these tumors comes from the internal maxillary artery, which is a major branch of the external carotid artery.

The internal maxillary artery gives off several branches that provide blood to the nasal cavity and surrounding structures, including the sphenopalatine artery, which directly supplies the nasopharynx. The rich vascularity of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas contributes to the severity of the symptoms, particularly the tendency for significant bleeding, which is often associated with these tumors.

In contrast, while the external carotid artery and other options listed play roles in supplying various structures in the head and neck, they are not the primary source of blood for juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas. The facial artery primarily supplies the face, while the superior thyroid artery is focused on the thyroid gland. Thus, the internal maxillary artery is specifically recognized for its critical role in supplying blood to these angiofibromas.