Pterygopalatine Fossa

Question 1

What is contained in the pterygopalatine fossa?

Answer 1

Third part of the maxillary artery
Maxillary nerve
Pterygopalatine ganglion

Question 2

What is the lateral communication of the pterygopalatine fossa? What does it transmit?

Answer 2

With the infratemporal fossa via the pterygomaxillary fissure
Transmit the third part of the maxillary artery (1st and 2nd part are in the infratemporal fossa)

Question 3

What is the medial communication of the pterygopalatine fossa? What does it transmit?

Answer 3

medially communicated with the nasal cavity via the sphenopalatine foramen
Transmits:
sphenopalatine vessels
Upper posterior nasal nerves (terminal branch of the maxillary artery)
Nasopalatine nerve

Question 4

What is the anterior communication of the pterygopalatine fossa? What does it transmit?

Answer 4

Anteriorly communicates with the orbit via the inferior orbital fissure
Transmits:
Infraorbital nerve (which was once the maxillary nerve) and vessels
Zygomatic nerves
Orbital nerves

Question 5

What is the posterior communication of the pterygopalatine fossa? (2 parts, and what does each transmit)?

Answer 5

1. with the middle cranial fossa
   - via the foramen rotundum (which transmits the maxillary nerve)
   - and via the pterygoid canal (which transmits nerves of the pterygoid canal, deep petrosal and greater petrosal)
2. with the pharynx
   - via the palatovaginal canal (transmits the pharyngeal nerve and vessels)

Question 6

What is the inferior communication of the pterygopalatine fossa (2)? What do these 2 things transmit?

Answer 6

Communicates with the oral cavity inferior

1. via the greater palatine canal (transmits greater palatine nerve and vessels)
2. via the lesser palatine canal (transmits the lesser palatine nerve and vessels)