Middle meningeal a

One of the branches of the maxillary a., the middle meningeal enters the cranial cavity from the infratemporal fossa by way of the foramen spinosum.  The middle meningeal a. runs within the dura mater, and supplies blood to both the dura and the skull.  The course of the artery can be seen in a dry skull because it leaves a clear indentation in the bone.

Superior view of the dura mater.  The scalp has been reflected and the calvaria removed.  Branches of the middle meningeal a. (#4) on the surface of the dura mater.