Pterygopalatine Fossa

Question 1

T/F: The infratemporal fossa is lateral to the pterygopalatine fossa.

Answer 1

TRUE

Question 2

How many openings are associated with the pteygopalatine fossa?

Answer 2

7

Question 3

What cranial nerve is associated with the pterygopalatine ganglion?

Answer 3

CN VII

Question 4

What type of nerve fibers make up the pterygopalatine ganglion?

Answer 4

Sympathetic and parasympathetic.

*Only p-symp synapse here

Question 5

What is the only opening on the lateral wall of the pt. fossa?

Answer 5

Pterygomaxillary fissure

Question 6

What major artery passes through the pterygomaxillary fissure?

Answer 6

Maxillary artery

Question 7

What opening is found in the medial wall of the pt. fossa?

Answer 7

Sphenopalatine foramen

Question 8

What two bones form the sphenopalatine foramen?

Answer 8

Sphenoid bone and perpendicular plate of palatine bone

Question 9

What artery passes through the sphenopalatine canal?

Answer 9

Sphenopalatine artery (from maxillary a.)

Question 10

What are the terminal branches of the sphenopalatine artery?

Answer 10

1. Posterior lateral nasal arteries

2. Posterior septal branches

Question 11

What nerves go through the sphenopalatine foramen?

Answer 11

1. Nasopalatine nerve (V2)

2. Post. lateral nasal nerves (V2)

Question 12

What opening is found in the posteriosuperior wall of the pt. fossa?

Answer 12

Foramen rotundum

Question 13

What goes through the foramen rotundum?

Answer 13

Maxillary nerve (V2)

Question 14

What opening is found in the anterosuperior wall of the pt. fossa?

Answer 14

Inferior orbital fissure

Question 15

What nerves pass through the inferior orbital fissure?

Answer 15

Infraorbital and zygomatic nerves (V2)

Question 16

Describe the path of the infraorbital nerve from the pt. fossa?

Answer 16

inferior orbital fissure -> infraorbital foramen -> general sensory to middle face

Question 17

What are two branches of the zygomatic nerves after exiting inferior orbital fissure?

Answer 17

1. Zygomaticotemporal nerve

2. Zygomaticofacial nerve

Question 18

What are the two openings on the posterior wall of the pt. fossa?

Answer 18

1. pterygoid canal

2. pharyngeal canal

Question 19

What two foramen does the pterygoid canal connect?

Answer 19

Foramen lacerum and sphenopalatine foramen

Question 20

What nerve does the pterygoid canal transmit?

Answer 20

Vidian nerve of pterygoid canal

Question 21

What artery transmits through the pterygoid canal?

Answer 21

Pterygoid branch of maxillary artery

Question 22

What nerve does the pharyngeal canal transmit?

Answer 22

Pharyngeal nerve (V2)

Question 23

What artery does the pharyngeal canal transmit?

Answer 23

Pharyngeal branch of maxillary artery

Question 24

What is the opening of the inferior wall of the pt. fossa?

Answer 24

Palatine canal

Question 25

What nerves combine to make the nerve of ptergoid canal posterior to canal?

Answer 25

Greater petrosal and deep petrosal nerves

Question 26

What nerves does the palatine canal transmit?

Answer 26

Greater and lesser palatine nerves (V2)

Question 27

What part of the palate does the greater palatine nerve supply?

Answer 27

Hard palate

Question 28

What part of the palate does the lesser palatine nerve supply?

Answer 28

Soft palate

Question 29

What artery is transmitted through the palatine canal?

Answer 29

Descending palatine artery: splits to greater and lesser palatine arteries

Question 30

What small nerves connect V2 to the pterygopalatine ganglion?

Answer 30

Pterygopalatine nerves

Question 31

After entering the pt. fossa through foramen rotundum, what are the branches of the V2?

Answer 31

1. PSA 2. Zygomatic nerve 3. Palatine nerves (via pt ganglion) 4. Post. lateral nasal branches (via pt ganglion) 5. Becomes infra-orbital nerve

Question 32

What fibers does the deep petrosal nerve contribute to the vidian nerve?

Answer 32

Postganglionic sympathetic

Question 33

What fibers does the greater petrosal nerve contribute to the vidian nerve?

Answer 33

Preganglionic parasympathetic from CN VII

Question 34

What do the fibers from the vidian nerve ultimately supply?

Answer 34

Lacrimal, Nasal, and Palatal glands