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.

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.

Links

Related Articles

• Spaces of the skull
• Ganglion pterygopalatinum
• Infratemporal Fossa
• Temporal Fossa

External links

• Mefanet – Deep spaces of the head Fossa pterygopalatina
• fossa-pterygopalatine Jaw surgery – Fossa pterygopalatine

References

• ČIHÁK, Radomír. Anatomy 1. 3. edition. Grada, 2011. 552 pp. ISBN 978-80-247-3817-8.

• GRIM, Miloš – DRUGA, Rastislav. Fundamentals of Anatomy : 5. Anatomy of body landscapes. 1. edition. Galen, 2008. 119 pp. ISBN 978-80-7262-179-8.

• HUDÁK, Radovan – TILE, David. Memorix anatomy. 3. edition. 2016. 607 pp. ISBN 978-80-7387-959-4.