Pterygopalatine Fossa

Question 1

main contents

Answer 1

pterygopalatine ganglion
max n and branches
3rd part of max a

Question 2

boundries

Answer 2

A. Superior border – greater wing of sphenoid bone and junction with the inferior orbital fissure
B. Anterior border – posterior wall of maxilla (medial superior part of maxilla)
C. Medial border – perpendicular plate of palatine bone
D. Posterior border – root of the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone
E. Inferior border – opening of greater palatine canal
F. Lateral border – pterygomaxillary fissure between pterygoid process and posterior wall of maxilla

Question 3

6 spaces

Answer 3

Six spaces surround the pterygopalatine fossa.
A. Orbit – anterosuperiorly via inferior orbital fissure
B. Nasal Cavity – medially via sphenopalatine foramen
C. Middle Cranial Fossa – posteriorly via foramen rotundum and pterygoid canal
D. Oral Cavity – inferiorly via greater palatine canal (foramen)
E. Nasopharynx – inferoposteriorly via palatovaginal (pharyngeal) canal
F. Infratemporal Fossa – laterally via pterygomaxillary fissure

Question 4

7 openings to the ptg fossa

Answer 4

sphenopalatine, inf orbital fissure, ptergomaxillary, greater palatine, foramen rotundum, pterygoid canal, pharyngeal (palatovaginal canal)

Question 5

content of inf orbital fissure

Answer 5

A. inferior orbital fissure (to orbit)

• infraorbital and zygomatic branches of V2
• infraorbital artery and vein
• communicating vessels between inferior ophthalmic vein and pterygoid venous plexus

Question 6

conetnt of sphenopalartine foramen

Answer 6

nasopalatine n of v2

sphenopalatine a and v

Question 7

content of ptergomaxillary

Answer 7

3rd part of max a

sup, pos ans midddle alveolar a/n/v

Question 8

greater palatine content ?

Answer 8

• greater palatine nerve and artery to hard palate

- lesser palatine nerve and artery to soft palate

Question 9

palatovaginal canal content?

Answer 9

• pharyngeal branch of V2

- pharyngeal artery

Question 10

pterygoid canal content ?

Answer 10

vidian N/A/V

Question 11

A. Branches that come directly from the maxillary nerve trunk

Answer 11

1. Infraorbital nerve
2. Zygomatic nerve
3. Posterior, middle and anterior superior alveolar nerves
4. Meningeal nerve (follows middle meningeal a.)
5. Ganglionic nerve (s) = pterygopalatine nerves

Question 12

B. Branches of v2 associated with the pterygopalatine parasympathetic ganglion

Answer 12

1. Nasopalatine nerve
2. Posterior superior nasal nerve
3. Orbital nerve (s)
4. Pharyngeal nerve
5. Greater palatine nerve
6. Lesser palatine nerve

Question 13

PTG primarily sensory branches of the __ that pass through the ganglion without synapsing

Answer 13

V2

Question 14

PtG sensory branches do however convey some parasympathetic fibres to the

Answer 14

palatine, pharyngeal and nasal mucous glands.

Question 15

Postganglionic sympathetic fibrers pass through the ganglion without synapsing and supply ?

Answer 15

blood vessels and the orbitalis (smooth) muscle.

Question 16

Postganglionic sympathetic fibers arise from

Answer 16

arise in the superior cervical ganglion and travel via the carotid plexus and deep petrosal nerve to reach the pterygoid canal.

Question 17

3rd part of max artery ?

Answer 17

A.	Posterior superior alveolar artery
B.	Infraorbital artery
C.	Sphenoplatine artery
D.	Greater (Descending) palatine artery
E.	Artery of the Pterygoid Canal
F.	Pharyngeal artery