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The meningeal arteries are blood vessels that supply the protective layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord, known as the meninges. The largest of these is the middle meningeal artery, located near the temporal bone.12

If the middle meningeal artery is damaged, typically due to a head injury, it can lead to an epidural hematoma. This is a serious condition where arterial blood collects between the skull and the dura mater, the outermost meningeal layer. The rapid accumulation of blood increases pressure on the brain, which can be fatal if not surgically treated.32

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