Pterygopalatine Fossa

Question 1

Boundaries of Pterygopalatine fossa

Answer 1

• Ant. Boundary = Post. Surface of maxilla
• Post. Boundary = Pterygoid process of
sphenoid bone
• Med. Boundary = Perp. Plate of palatine bone
• Roof = Greater wing of sphenoid bone
• Floor = Pyramidal process of palatine bone
• *It communicates with Infratemporal fossa (laterally)

Question 2

Pterygopalatine Ganglion (CN VII)

Answer 2

– Attached to V2 by 2 (short) pterygopalatine
nerves
– Receives (Vidian) n.of pterygoid canal
– Composed of both symp. & p-symp fibers
– ** only p-symp fibers synapse here
• ‘Hub’ for nn. & aa. supplying middle face • Associated with 7 openings

Question 3

Vidian N. of Pterygoid Canal

Answer 3

• Postganglionic symp. fibers from Deep Petrosal n.
– Internal carotid plexus
• Preganglionic p-symp. fibers from
Greater Petrosal n. – CN VII (Facial)
• Supply the lacrimal gland, nasal & palatal glands

Question 4

7 Openings of Pterygopalatine Fossa

Answer 4

• Pterygomaxillary fissue = lateral
• Sphenopala+ne foramen = medial
• Inferior orbital fissure = anterosuperior
• Foramen rotundum = posteriosuperior
• Pterygoid canal = posterior
• Pharyngeal canal = posterior
• Pala+ne canal = inferior

Question 5

Pterygomaxillary fissure

Answer 5

• Slit-like opening between lateral pterygoid plate & maxilla
• Serves as lateral entrance to pterygopalatine fossa
• Terminal brs. of maxillary a. enter here
• Venous blood drains via pterygoid plexus

Question 6

Pterygoid Venous Plexus

Answer 6

• Pt. pl. ant. to facial v.
• Pt. pl. post. to max. v. to retromand. v. to IJV
  or via post br. with post auric v. to EJV
• Sup. : orbit & cavernous sinus via inf. ophthalmic v.

Question 7

Sphenopalatine Foramen

Answer 7

• Formed between sphenoid bone & perpendicular plate of palatine bone.
• Medial exit from pterygopalatine fossa
• Sphenopala)ne a. passes thru to enter nasal
cavity
– Gives off post. lat. nasal & post. septal brs.
• Nasopalatine n. & Posterior lateral nasal nn. (V2)

Question 8

Inferior Orbital Fissure

Answer 8

• Located in posterior/inferior aspect of orbit
• Ant./Supr. exit from pterygopalatine fossa
• Infraorbital & zygomatic nn. (V2) pass thru
– Infraorbital n con+nues thru infraorbital foramen to
face
– Zygomatic n. sends of 2 brs. In orbit leading to face • Zygoma+cotemporal n.
• Zygoma+cofacial n.
• Accompanying aa. pass thru with nn.

Question 9

Foramen Rotundum

Answer 9

• Located in middle cranial fossa
• Post./Supr. entrance to pterygopalatine fossa
• Maxillary n. (V2) pass thru
– Continues thru fossa, exits ant. /supr.
• Infraorbital & zygomaicc nn.

Question 10

Pterygoid Canal

Answer 10

• Runs post./ant. thru body of sphenoid bone
• Connects foramen lacerum & sphenopala+ne
foramen
• Serves as one post. Opening of pterygopala+ne fossa
• Transmits Vidian n. of pterygoid canal
• Transmits pterygoid br. of maxillary a.

Question 11

Pharyngeal Canal

Answer 11

• Found just supr./lat. to alae of vomer bone – ~ 1 cm ant./med. to pterygoid canal
• Serves as other post. opening of pterygopalatine fossa
• Transmits pharyngeal n. (CN V2)
• Transmits pharyngeal br. of maxillary a.

Question 12

Palatine Canal

Answer 12

• Runs vertically just lateral to perpendicular plate of palatine bone
• Serves as inferior exit of pterygopalatine fossa
• Transmits Greater & Lesser Palatine Nn. (CN V2)
• Transmits descending palatine a.
– Greater & Lesser Palatine aa.; each runs with n.
• Emerge thru greater and lesser palatine foramen