Pterygopalatine fossa:

Question 1

Pterygopalatine fossa location

Answer 1

Inferior to orbit
Medial to infratemporal fossa

Question 2

Pterygopalatine fossa: Borders

Answer 2

Post: Pterygoid process of sphenoid bone
Ant: Rounded post. aspect of maxilla
Med: Perpendicular plate of palatine bone
Roof: Greater wing of sphenoid bone
Floor: Pyramidal process of palatine bone

Question 3

Pterygomaxillary fissure

Answer 3

A triangular-shaped, lateral opening of the pterygopalatine fossa
Opening where the infratemporal fossa can communicate with the pterygopalatine fossa

Question 4

Pterygopalatine fossa: Apertures
Function

Answer 4

Serves as a gateway for many openings for communication with the orbit, nasal cavity, oral cavity, middle cranial fossa and the infratemporal fossa

Question 5

Pterygopalatine fossa: Apertures

Answer 5

Anterior: infra-orbital foramen
- Infra-orbital nerve, artery

Posterior: middle cranial fossa via foramen rotundum
- Maxillary nerve

Superior: Pterygoid canal
- Nerve of the pterygoid canal

Inferior: Greater and lesser palatine canals
- Greater and lesser palatine nerves, arteries

Medial: Sphenopalatine foramen
- Nerves to nasal passages
- Sphenopalatine artery

Lateral: Pterygomaxillary fissure
- Maxillary artery (3rd part)

Question 6

Question 7

Pterygopalatine fossa: Contents

Answer 7

Pterygopalatine ganglion - Parasympathetic ganglion
Maxillary nerve
3rd part of maxillary a.
Neurovascular sheaths of blood vessels and nerves

Question 8

Pterygopalatine fossa: Maxillary artery

Answer 8

3rd part
Enters through pterygomaxillary fissure
Lies anterior to pterygopalatine ganglion
Accompanies nerves entering and exiting the fossa