PURPOSE: In this study, vascular anatomy of the lacrimal gland is studied in order to help the surgeons with the complications possible to arise during the lacrimal gland surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In order to visualize the arterial branching better both of the carotid systems were filled by coloured latex injection through common carotid arteries in 12 cadavers fixed with formalin. RESULTS: In all cadavers the lacrimal artery originated from the ophthalmic artery. In 7 of the cadavers bilateraly, lacrimal artery, after originating from the ophthalmic artery extended near to the lacrimal gland and then divided into 4 branches. One of these branches supplied the lateral rectus muscle. Only in one of the seven cadavers, unilateraly, the lacrimal artery was anastamosing with a thick branch of middle meningeal artery in the gland. In 3 of the 12 cadavers, the lacrimal artery was originating from the ophthalmic artery as a single branch and was terminating by dividing into 2 branches within the lacrimal gland. In 2 of the 12 cadavers, the lacrimal artery was originating from the ophthalmic artery as a single branch and just before entering into the gland it was dividing into two branches. CONCLUSION: The lacrimal artery is the thickest and the most varied branch of the ophthalmic artery in the orbit Therefore, in cases the lacrimal artery is necessary to be ligated, it shall be beneficial to know the characteristics of this branching with respect to surgical approaches to be performed.