75 Pterygopalatine Fossa: Nerves and vessels

Question 1

Identify 1 - 3

Answer 1

1. Superior orbital fissure
2. Optic foramen
3. Foramen rotundum

Question 2

Identify 4 - 5

Answer 2

4. Styloid process
5. Maxillary sinus

Question 3

Identify 6 - 7

Answer 3

6. Sphenopalatine foramen
7. Nasal cavity

Question 4

Identify 8 - 10

Answer 4

8. Pharyngeal canal
9. Pterygoid canal
10. Sphenoidal sinus

Question 5

The pterygopalatine fossa contains major nerves and blood vessels that supply ___ (4)

Answer 5

the nasal cavity, upper jaw, hard palate, and soft palate

Question 6

Which portion of maxillary artery does the pterygopalatne fossa contain?

Answer 6

2nd part

Question 7

How many foramina/fissures to allow passage of nerves and vessels in the pterygopalatine fossa?

Answer 7

There are 7 foramina/fissures to allow passage of nerves and vessels.

Question 8

Nerves of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

Identify 1 - 2

Answer 8

1. Ophthalmic n.
2. Trigeminal n.

Question 9

Nerves of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

Identify 3 - 6

Answer 9

3. Maxillary n.
4. Nerve of the pterygoid canal
5. Pterygopalatine ganglion
6. Ganglionic branches

Question 10

Nerves of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

Identify 7 - 8

Answer 10

7. Posterior superior alveolar n.
8. Infraorbital n.

Question 11

Nerves of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

The major nerve supply within the pterygopalatine fossa is from ____ which is sensory in function.

Answer 11

the maxillary division of the trigeminal n.,

Question 12

Nerves of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

Autonomic fibers enter the pterygopalatine fossa via their connections to the pterygopalatine ganglion by ___

Answer 12

the nerve of the pterygoid canal.

Question 13

Nerves of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

In the ganglion, ganglionic branches connect the ganglion to the maxillary division.

→ Because of the connection to the maxillary division, the autonomics are now distributed via ____

Answer 13

the maxillary division of the trigeminal n.,

Question 14

Nerves of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

The maxillary division passes from the middle cranial fossa into the pterygopalatine fossa via ____

Answer 14

the foramen rotundum

Question 15

Nerves of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

The maxillary division passes from the middle cranial fossa into the pterygopalatine fossa via the foramen rotundum. Within the pterygopalatine fossa, it gives rise to 4 branches

→ What are they?

Answer 15

• Posterior superior alveolar n.

• Zygomatic n.
• Ganglionic branches
• Infraorbital n.

Question 16

Nerves of the Pterygopalatine Ganglion

Identify 1 - 3

Answer 16

1. Zygomatic n.
2. Posterior superior alveolar n.
3. Lesser palatine n.

Question 17

Nerves of the Pterygopalatine Ganglion

Identify 4

Answer 17

4. Greater palatine n.

Question 18

Nerves of the Pterygopalatine Ganglion

Identify 5 - 8

Answer 18

5. Posterior superior nasal n.
6. Nasopalatine n.
7. Pharyngeal n.
8. Nerve of the pterygoid canal

Question 19

Nerves of the Pterygopalatine Ganglion

Identify 9

Answer 19

9. Infraorbital n.

Question 20

Nerves of the Pterygopalatine Ganglion

The pterygopalatine ganglion is a collection of cell bodies in___

Answer 20

the peripheral nervous system (postganglionic parasympathetic cell bodies).

Question 21

Nerves of the Pterygopalatine Ganglion

The nerve of the pterygoid canal carries ____ to the pterygopalatine ganglion

Answer 21

the autonomic fibers

Question 22

Nerves of the Pterygopalatine Ganglion

At the pterygopalatine ganglion, what are the 3 sets of nerve fibers travel through the pterygopalatine ganglion?

Answer 22

1. General sensory fibers from the trigeminal n. (without synapsing)
2. Postganglionic sympathetic fibers (carried to the pterygopalatine ganglion via the nerve of the pterygoid canal without synapsing)
3. Preganglionic parasympathetic fibers (carried to the pterygopalatine ganglion via the nerve of the pterygoid canal and formed by synapsing in the pterygopalatine ganglion)

Question 23

Nerves of the Pterygopalatine Ganglion

At the pterygopalatine ganglion, there are 3 sets of nerve fibers travel through the pterygopalatine ganglion

1. General sensory fibers from the trigeminal n. (without ___)
2. Postganglionic sympathetic fibers (carried to the pterygopalatine ganglion via _____without synapsing)
3. Preganglionic parasympathetic fibers (carried to the pterygopalatine ganglion via the nerve of the pterygoid canal and formed by ___ in the pterygopalatine ganglion)

Answer 23

1. synapsing
2. the nerve of the pterygoid canal
3. synapsing

Question 24

Nerves of the Pterygopalatine Ganglion

All branches arising from the pterygopalatine ganglion carry 3 sets of fibers to the areas where they terminate.

→ What are nerves of the maxillary division travel through the pterygopalatine ganglion? (5)

Answer 24

1. Nasopalatine n.
2. Posterior superior nasal n.
3. Greater palatine n.
4. Lesser palatine n.
5. Pharyngeal n.

Question 25

Arteries of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

Identify 1 - 2

Answer 25

1. Infraorbital a.
2. Maxillary a.

Question 26

Arteries of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

Identify 3 - 4

Answer 26

3. Descending palatine a.
4. Lesser palatine a.

Question 27

Arteries of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

Identify 5

Answer 27

5. Greater palatine a.

Question 28

Arteries of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

Identify 6 - 8

Answer 28

6. Sphenopalatine a.
7. Pharyngeal a.
8. Artery of the pterygoid canal

Question 29

Arteries of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

The vasculature of the pteryogopalatine fossa arises from ____, which passes from the infratemporal fossa into the pterygopalatine fossa via the pterygomaxillary fissure.

Answer 29

the 3rd part of the maxillary a.

Question 30

Arteries of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

The vasculature of the pteryogopalatine fossa arises from the 3rd part of the maxillary a., which passes from the infratemporal fossa into ___ via the pterygomaxillary fissure.

Answer 30

the pterygopalatine fossa

Question 31

Arteries of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

Immediately before passing through the pterygomaxillary fissure, the 3rd part of the maxillary a. gives off ___ (which artery?)

Answer 31

the posterior superior alveolar a

Question 32

Arteries of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

Within the fossa, the 3rd part of the maxillary gives rise to 4 arteries directly

→ What are they?

Answer 32

1. The infraorbital artery
2. The descending palatine artery
3. The pharyngeal artery
4. The sphenopalatine artery

Question 33

Arteries of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

the infraorbital a. is the the continuation of____

Answer 33

the 3rd part of the maxillary a.

Question 34

Arteries of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

Within the fossa, the 3rd part of the maxillary gives rise to 4 arteries directly

→ the descending palatine a., which descends into ____

Answer 34

the palatine canal

Question 35

Arteries of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

Within the fossa, the 3rd part of the maxillary gives rise to 4 arteries directly

→ the descending palatine a., which descends into the palatine canal where it splits into ____

Answer 35

the greater and lesser palatine aa

Question 36

Arteries of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

Within the fossa, the 3rd part of the maxillary gives rise to 4 arteries directly

→ the large sphenopalatine a., which passes medially into ___ to enter the nasal cavity.

Answer 36

the sphenopalatine foramen

Question 37

Arteries of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

The vasculature of the pteryogopalatine fossa arises from the 3rd part of the maxillary a., which passes from the infratemporal fossa into the pterygopalatine fossa via ___

Answer 37

the pterygomaxillary fissure.

Question 38

Arteries of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

The vasculature of the pteryogopalatine fossa arises from the 3rd part of the maxillary a., which passes from ____ into the pterygopalatine fossa via the pterygomaxillary fissure.

Answer 38

the infratemporal fossa