Pterygopalatine fossa

The Fossa pterygopalatina is a topographically significant place between the upper jaw (maxilla) and the processus pterygoideus. It is a medial continuation of the infratemporal fossa and communicates with it through a fissure called the fissura pterygomaxillaris. It has the shape of a slender pyramid, standing on its tip.

[[File:Fossa pterygopalatina.svg|preview|350px|Scheme of fossa pterygopalatina

a – pterygoid process; b – facies maxillaris alae majoris o. sphenoidalis; c – lamina perpendicularis o. palatini; d – facies infratemporalis maxillae; e – canalis pterygoideus; f – canalis palatinovaginalis; g – foramen rotundum; h – fissura orbitalis inferior; i – sphenopalatine foramen; j – alveolar foramina; k – canalis palatinus major; 1 – maxillary nerve; 2 – pterygopalatine ganglion; 3 – ramus pharyngeus; 4 – n. petrosus major; 5 – n. petrosus profundus; 6 – n. zygomaticus; 7 – n. infraorbitalis; 8 - nn. alveolares sup. post.; 9 - nn. minor palatine; 10 – n. palatinus major; 11- nn. nasales posteriores; 12– a. maxillaris; 13– a. palatina descendes; 14– vasa infraorbitalia; 15– vasa sphenopalatina; 16– vasa canalis pterygoidei; 17– vasa palatina majora; 18– vasa palatina minora; 19– pterygoid plexus]]

Boundary
The Front wall is formed by the maxilla - the posterior infratemporal surface. The posterior wall is formed by the pterygoideus process - the ventral edge. 'Medially is the lamina perpendicularis ossis palatini. Laterally, it is not closed, it is connected to the fossa infratemporalis, and the ceiling is the body of the sphenoid bone at the distance of the large wings.

Passages
Foramen sphenopalatinum

It is used to communicate with the nasal cavity. Passes through here a. et v. sphenopalatina along with the rami nasales.

'Fissura orbitalis inferior'' ''' For communication with the eye socket. We find here n. zygomaticus, n. et a. infraorbitalis, then v. ophthalmica inferior and m. orbitalis.

'Canalis palatinus major'' ''' To communicate with the floor. Here the n. palatinus major and a. et v. palatina major.

'Foramen rotundum'' ''' Used to communicate with the brain lab. The n. maxillaris.

Canalis pterygoideus (Vidii)

To communicate with the floor. We find here n. canalis pterygoidei and a. et v. canalis pterygoidei.

'Canales palatini minores'' ''' It also serves to communicate with the floor. In the channels we find ''nn. palatini minores, aa. et vv. palatinae minores''.

'Fissura pterygomaxillaris'' ' This is for communication with the fossa infratemporalis''. It is located here a. maxillaris and tributaries of the plexus pterygoideus.

Contents
The contents are the final branches a. maxillaris – a. sphenopalatine, a. palatine descendens and a. canalis pterygoidei. Furthermore, the deep part of the plexus pterygoideus and the ganglion pterygopalatinum. Branches here n. maxillaris to ''n. infraorbitalis, n. zygomaticus and nn. pterygopalatini''.

Related Articles

 * Skull Spaces
 * Ganglion pterygopalatinum
 * Fossa infratemporalis
 * Fossa temporalis