Pterygopalatine fossa

Question 1

Bones forming the boundaries of the pterygopalatine fossa

Answer 1

Sphenoid
Maxilla
Palatine

Question 2

Communications of pterygopalatine fossa

Answer 2

Medially: Sphenopalatine foramen to nasal cavity

Superiorly: Inferior orbital fissure to orbit

Posteriorly there are three openings

1. Palatovaginal/Pharyngeal canal –> nasopharynx
2. Foramen Rotundum –> Meckel’s cave + Cavernous sinus
3. Vidian/Pterygopalatine canal –> Palate

Inferiorly: Palatine foramen to oral cavity

Question 3

Contents of temporal fossa.

Answer 3

Superficial temporal artery 
Deep temporal branches of mandibular nerve 
Temporal branch of facial artery 
Deep temporal artery 
Zygomaticotemporal nerve 
Auriculotemporal nerve 
Temporalis muscle

Question 4

Boundaries of temporal fossa

Answer 4

Superior: Superior temporal line
Inferior: At level of zygomatic arch
Anterior: Zygomatic bone frontal process and Temporal bone’s zygomatic process

Question 5

The parapharyngeal space refers to which fossa?

Answer 5

Infratemporal fossa

Question 6

Boundaries of infratemporal fossa

Answer 6

Medial: Lateral pterygoid plate of sphenoid
Lateral: Mandible ramus
Superior: Greater wing of sphenoid with foramen spinosum and ovale
Inferior: open and extends up to angle of mandible
Posterior: Styloid process
Anterior: Maxilla posterior surface

Question 7

Communications of infratemporal fossa

Answer 7

Orbit via inferior orbital fissure

Pterygopalatine fossa via Pterygomaxillary fissure

Temporal fossa via gap deep to zygomatic arch

Middle cranial fossa via foramen spinosum and ovale

Question 8

Key muscle of infratemporal region is the

Answer 8

Lateral pterygoid