Anatomy: Pterygopalatine Fossa Flashcards
Small space that is medial to the infratemporal fossa
Pterygopalatine Fossa
Anterior boundary of the pterygopalatine fossa
Posterior surface of the maxilla
Posterior boundary of the pterygopalatine fossa
Pterygoid process
Superior boundary of the pterygopalatine fossa
Greater wing of the sphenoid
Medial boundary of the pterygopalatine fossa
Perpendicular plate of the palatine bone
Openings into the LATERAL wall of the pterygopalatine fossa
Pterygomaxillary fissure
Openings into the MEDIAL wall of the pterygopalatine fossa
Sphenopalatine foramen
Openings into the ANTERIOR wall of the pterygopalatine fossa
Inferior orbital fissure
Openings into the POSTERIOR wall of the pterygopalatine fossa
Pterygoid canal
Openings into the CEILING of the pterygopalatine fossa
Foramen rotundum (“Skylight” on ceiling)
Openings into the FLOOR of the pterygopalatine fossa
No floor - just a passage to the greater and lesser palatine canals
What nerve passes through the pterygopalatine fossa and what hangs off this nerve?
- V2 (maxillary division of CN 5 = trigeminal nerve)
- the pterygopalatine ganglion hangs from it
Parasympathetic ganglion located in the pterygopalatine fossa
Pterygopalatine ganglion
The three types of fibers that the pterygopalatine ganglion receives.
- Sensory
- Preganglionic parasympathetic fibers
- Postganglionic sympathetic fibers
Where do the SENSORY fibers come from that are received by the pterygopalatine ganglion
From V2 (maxillary division of CN 5 = Trigeminal nerve)
Where do the PREGANGLIONIC PARASYMPATHETIC fibers come from that are received by the pterygopalatine ganglion
From the greater petrosal nerve (branch of VII = facial nerve)
Where do the POSTGANGLIONIC SYMPATHETIC fibers come from that are received by the pterygopalatine ganglion
From the deep petrosal nerve
What kind of fibers does the greater petrosal nerve contain?
Preganglionic parasympathetic fibers
What kind of fibers does the deep petrosal nerve contain?
Postganglionic sympathetic fibers from the superior cervical ganglion
The greater petrosal nerve joins the deep petrosal nerve to form what nerve?
The nerve of the pterygoid canal (aka Vidian’s nerve)
Where does the nerve of the pterygoid canal/Vidian’s nerve terminate?
Pterygopalatine ganglion