Hyaloid artery

The hyaloid artery is a branch of the ophthalmic artery, which is itself a branch of the carotid artery. It is contained within the optic stalk of the eye and extends through the vitreous humor to the lens. Usually fully regressed before birth, its purpose is to aid the development of the lens in the growing fetus.

During the tenth week of development, the lens grows independent of a blood supply and the hyaloid artery usually regresses. Its proximal portion remains as the central artery of the retina. The distal remnants of the hyaloid artery form Cloquet's canal, which is suspended in the vitreous humour. These remnants can sometimes be seen as "floaters". Cloquet's canal is named after the man who first described it, French physician Jules Germain Cloquet (1790-1883}.

Occasionally the artery may not fully regress, resulting in persistent hyaloid artery.