Which of the following is the first branch of the internal carotid artery (ICA)?

The first branch of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is indeed the ophthalmic artery. This artery arises shortly after the ICA enters the cranial cavity, making it a key vessel that supplies blood to important structures within the orbit, including the eye and its surrounding tissues. The ophthalmic artery plays a vital role in providing blood to the optic nerve, retina, and other critical parts of the visual pathway.

In contrast, other options such as the superior thyroid artery, facial artery, and vertebral artery do not branch from the internal carotid artery. The superior thyroid artery typically arises from the external carotid artery, and similarly, the facial artery branches from the external carotid artery as well. The vertebral artery is a branch of the subclavian artery and not related to the internal carotid artery at all. This distinction reinforces the significance of the ophthalmic artery as the first anatomical branch of the ICA in terms of vascular anatomy and its functional outcomes in the human body.