pterygopalatine fossa Flashcards
bony boundaries of pterygopalatine fossa
- anterior: maxilla
- posterior: pterygoid process
- medial: perpendicular plate of palatine bone
- lateral: pterygomaxillary fissure
- superior: sphenoid bone
- inferior: pyramidal process of palatine bone and the joining of pterygoid process to maxilla
foramina and fissures used to communicate for pterygopalatine fossa
- foramen rotundum and pterygoid canal to the middle cranial fossa
- palatine canal –> oral cavity (hard palate)
- sphenopalatine foramen–> nasal cavity
- pterygomaxillary fissure–> infratemporal fossa
- inferior orbital fissure–> orbit
- pharyngeal canal–> nasopharynx
pterygoid canal
(also called vidian canal)
- bony canal opening onto posterior surface of pterygoid process
- opens into middle cranial fossa through foramen lacerum and anterior to carotid canal
- transfers vidian nerve (nerve to pterygoid canal to pterygopalatine fossa)
what are the contents of pterygopalatine fossa?
- maxillary nerve
- sphenopalatine parasympathetic ganglion
- pterygopalatine (3rd) part of maxillary artery
- tributaries of pterygoid venous plexus
- neurovascular sheath and a fatty matrix
pterygopalatine fossa is a major site of distribution for:
- maxillary nerve (V2)
- terminal part of maxillary artery
- autonomic fibers (parasympathetic fibers from facial nerve and sympathetic fibers from T1 spinal cord level) that join the branches of V2 in pterygopalatine fossa
maxillary nerve
- completely sensory
- starts from trigeminal ganglion in cranial cavity
- exits middle cranial fossa thru foramen rotundum to pterygopalatine fossa
- continues as infra-orbital nerve thru inferior orbital fissure
- gives sensory fibers to skin of face and side of nose
- carries parasympathetic secretomotor fibers from facial nerve to lacrimal, nasal, and palatine glands
2 ganglionic branches of maxillary nerve (V2)
1. sensory fibers from: upper teeth maxillary sinus nose palate orbit pharynx 2. postganglionic parasympathetic fibers to these glands: lacrimal nasal palatine
what CN does maxillary nerve receive parasymp. stim from?
facial
what CN does mandibular nerve receive parasymp. stim from?
IX and VII to stimulate parotid, submandibular, and sublingual
posterior superior alveolar nerves (PSA)
- exits the pterygopalatine fossa via the pterygomaxillary fissure
- enter the maxilla thru PSA foramina
- supplies maxillary sinus, upper molars, adjacent gingiva and cheek
zygomatic nerve
2 branches:
a. zygomaticotemporal branch–passes into temporal fossa to supply skin of temple
b. zygomaticofacial nerve–skin over prominence of cheek
what is the path to supply the lacrimal gland with secretomotor fibers?
zygomatic nerve joined by postganglionic parasympathetic fibers from SPG which leaves through zygomaticotemporal then to lacrimal of the ophthalmic (V1) to provide lacrimal gland with secretomotor fibers that originally arise from Facial nerve
infraorbital nerve path
- third branch of maxillary
- enters orbit through inferior orbital fissure
- passes in floor of orbit in infraorbital groove then canal before it appears in face through infraorbital foramen
branches of infraorbital nerve
- middle superior alveolar (MSA): upper premolar and adjacent gingiva and cheek
- Anterior superior alveolar (ASA): upper incisors and canine and adjacent gingiva and cheek
- terminal: nasal, palpebral, labial
greater palatine nerve and lesser palatine
- descend through the palatine canal
- supply palate, tonsil, and lateral wall of nasal cavity thru posterior inferior nasal branches