The Pterygopalatine Fossa

Question 1

pterygopalatine fossa:

an inverted “tear-drop” shaped space immediately posterior to the ___

contains the third part of the ___ artery, the ___ nerve, & the ___ ganglion

Answer 1

maxilla

maxillary artery
maxillary nerve
pterygopalatine ganglion

Question 2

pterygopalatine fossa:

primary significance: many communications w/ ___

b/c of its strategic location, it’s a major site of distribution for the ___ nerve & the terminal 3rd segment of the ___ artery

Answer 2

other areas of the head

maxillary nerve
maxillary artery

Question 3

pterygopalatine fossa:
boundaries:

anterior wall: posterior surface of the ___
posterior wall: ___ process of the ___ bone
medial wall: ___ plate of the ___ bone
lateral wall: ___ fissure
roof: greater wing of the ___
floor: ___ process of the ___ bone

Answer 3

posteiror surface of the maxilla
pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone
perpendicular plate of the palatine bone
pterygomaxillary fissure
greater wing of the sphenoid
pyramidal process of the palatine bone

Question 4

communications of the pterygopalatine fossa:
laterally:

w/ the ___ fossa via the ___ fissure

transmits: 3rd part of the ___ artery

Answer 4

infratemporal fossa
pterygomaxillary fissure

maxillary artery

Question 5

communications of the pterygopalatine fossa:
medially:

w/ the ___ cavity via the ___ foramen

transmits: ___ vessels, ___ nerves, ___ nerve

Answer 5

nasal cavity
sphenopalatine foramen

sphenopalatine vessels
upper posterior nasal nerves
nasopalatine nerve

Question 6

communications of the pterygopalatine fossa:
anteriorly:

w/ the ___ via the ___ fissure

transmits: ___ nerve & vessels, ___ nerve, ___ nerves

Answer 6

orbit
inferior orbital fissure

infraorbital nerve & vessels
zygomatic nerve
orbital nerves

Question 7

communications of the pterygopalatine fossa:
posteriorly:

w/ the ___ fossa via the ___

transmits: ___ nerve

Answer 7

middle cranial fossa
foramen rotundum

maxillary nerve

Question 8

communications of the pterygopalatine fossa:
posteriorly:

w/ the ___ fossa via the ___ canal

transmits: ___ nerve

Answer 8

middle cranial fossa
pterygoid canal

nerve of the pterygoid canal

Question 9

communications of the pterygopalatine fossa:
posteriorly:

w/ the ___ via the ___ canal

transmits: ___ nerve & vessels

Answer 9

pharynx
palatovagainal canal

pharyngeal nerve & vessels

Question 10

communications of the pterygopalatine fossa:
inferiorly:

w/ the ___ cavity via the ___ canal

transmits: ___ nerve & vessels

Answer 10

oral cavity
greater/lesser palatine canal

greater/lesser palatine nerve

Question 11

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:

(general/special) (sensory/motor) fibers

enter the lateral wall of the ___ sinus

pass through the ___ to enter the pterygopalatine fossa

Answer 11

general sensory fibers

cavernous sinus

foramen rotundum

Question 12

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:

within the pterygopalatine fossa, it’s connected to the ___ ganglion & ___ nerve for exchange of fibers

Answer 12

pterygopalatine ganglion

nerve of the pterygoid canal

Question 13

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
exchange of fibers:

pterygopalatine ganglion:
- (pre/postgang) (symp/parasmp) neurons

nerve of the pterygoid canal:

• ___ nerve (taste & preganglionic parasympathetic fibers from the facial nerve)
• ___ nerve (postganglionic sympathetic fibers form the internal carotid plexus)

Answer 13

postganglionic parasympathetic neurons

greater petrosal nerve
deep petrosal nerve

Question 14

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:

after passing through the pterygopalatine fossa, proceeds through the ___ fissure to the floor of the ___ & becomes the ___ nerve

passes along the ___ groove, canal, & foramen & finally emerges on the ___

Answer 14

inferior orbital fissure
orbit
infraorbital nerve

infraorbital
face

Question 15

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:

(pre/postgang) (symp/parasymp) fibers, arising from the pterygopalatine ganglion, join many (general/special) (sensory/motor) branches of the maxillary nerve in the pterygopalatine ganglion

the sympathetic fibers of the ___ nerve join all branches of the maxillary nerve

Answer 15

postganglionic parasympathetic fibers
general sensory

deep petrosal nerve

Question 16

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
branches (7)

Answer 16

orbital branches
greater & lesser palatine nerves
upper posterior nasal branches & nasopalatine nerves
pharyngeal nerve
zygomatic nerve
posterior superior alveolar nerve
infraorbital nerve

Question 17

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
orbital branches:

small branches passing through the ___ fissure & contribute to the supply of the ___ wall

contribute to the supply of the ___, ___, & ___

Answer 17

inferior orbital fissure
orbital wall

ehtmoidal, sphenoidal, & frontal air sinuses

Question 18

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
orbital branches:

three fiber types (3)

Answer 18

general sensory fibers from V2

postganglionic parasympathetic fibers from the pterygopalatine ganglion

postganglionic sympathetic fibers from the deep petrosal nerve

Question 19

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
greater & lesser palatine nerves:

descend through the ___ canals & emerge through the ___ foramina to reach the ___ of the mouth

Answer 19

palatine canals
greater & lesser palatine foramina
hard & soft palates

Question 20

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
greater & lesser palatine nerves:

four fiber types (4)

Answer 20

general sensory fibers from V2

postganglionic parasympathetic fibers from the pterygopalatine ganglion

taste fibers from the greater petrosal branch of the facial nerve for taste buds in the roof of the mouth (cells of origin of the taste fibers are in the geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve)

postganglionic sympathetic fibers from the deep petrosal nerve

Question 21

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
greater & lesser palatine nerves:

the greater palatine nerve passes forward on the roof of the ___ cavity to innervate mucosa & glands of the ___ & adjacent ___, almost as far forward as the ___ teeth

Answer 21

oralc avity
hard palate
gingiva
incisor teeth

Question 22

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
greater & lesser palatine nerves:

the lesser palatine nerve supplies the mucosa of the ___

within the palatine canal, the greater palatine nerve gives rise to the ___ nerves

Answer 22

soft palate

lower posterior nasal nerves

Question 23

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
upper posterior nasal branches & nasopalatine nerves:

pass into the ___ cavity through the ___ foramen

posterior nasal branches supply the posterior part of the ___ & posterior walls of the ___

Answer 23

nasal cavity
sphenopalatine foramen

nasal septum
nasal cavity

Question 24

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
upper posterior nasal branches & nasopalatine nerves:

the nasopalatine nerve proceeds antero-inferiorly through the ___ (supplying it) & enters the moutht through the ___ foramen behind the upper ___ teeth to supply the mucosa, gingiva, & glands adjacent to the ___ teeth

Answer 24

nasal septum
incisive foramen
upper incisor teeth
incisor teeth

Question 25

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
upper posterior nasal branches & nasopalatine nerves:

fiber types (3)

Answer 25

general sensory fibers from V2

postganglionic parasympathetic fibers from the pterygopalatine ganglion

postganglionic sympathetic fibers from the deep petrosal nerve

Question 26

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
pharyngeal nerve:

passes posteriorly from the ___ ganglion & leaves the fossa throught he ___ canal w/ the ___ vessels

supplies the mucosa & glands of the ___

Answer 26

pterygopalatine ganglion
palatovaginal canal
pharyngeal vessels

nasopharynx

Question 27

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
pharyngeal nerve:

fiber types (3)

Answer 27

general sensory fibers from V2

postganglionic parasympathetic fibers from the pterygopalatine ganglion

postganglionic sympathetic fibers from the deep petrosal nerve

Question 28

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
zygomatic nerve:

arises from the maxillary nerve within the ___ fossa

it passes into the ___ & splits into ___ & ___ branches which are sensory to the ___ & ___ regions of the face

Answer 28

pterygopalatine fossa

orbit
zygomaticofacial & zygomaticotemporal branches
zygomatic & temporal regions

Question 29

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
zygomatic nerve:

also receives (pre/postgang) (symp/parasymp) fibers from the ___ ganglion, which it hadns over to the ___ nerve

Answer 29

postganglionic parasympathetic fibers
pterygopalatine ganglion
lacrimal nerve of V1

Question 30

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
posterior superior alveolar nerve:

arises from the main trunk of the ___ nerve while in the ___ fossa

supplies the mucous membrane of the ___ sinuses & ___ teeth

Answer 30

maxillary nerve
pterygopalatine fossa

maxillary sinuses
upper molar teeth

Question 31

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
infraorbital nerve:

the anterior continuation of the ___ nerve as it enters the ___ fissure

while in the ___ groove & canal, it gives rise to the ___ & ___ nerves

Answer 31

maxillary nerve
inferior orbital fissure

infraorbital groove & canal
middle & anterior superior alveolar nerves

Question 32

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
infraorbital nerve:
middle superior alveolar nerve:

supplies the ___ sinuses & the ___ teeth

Answer 32

maxillary air sinuses

upper premolar teeth

Question 33

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
infraorbital nerve:
anterior superior alveolar nerve:

supplies the ___ sinuses & ___ teeth

also small branches of this nerve enter the ___ cavity & supply its floor, the ___ meatus & adjacent ___membrane

Answer 33

maxillary air sinuses
upper three anterior teeth

nasal cavity
inferior meatus
mucous membrane

Question 34

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
infraorbital nerve:

the posterior, middle, & anterior superior ___ nerves intermingle forming a ___ plexus before innervating the ___ teeth

Answer 34

alveolar nerves
dental plexus
upper teeth

Question 35

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
infraorbital nerve:

fiber types of the superior alveolar nerves (3)

Answer 35

general sensory fibers from V2

postganglionic parasympathetic fibers from the pterygopalatine ganglion

postganglionic sympathetic fibers from the deep petrosal nerve

Question 36

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
infraorbital nerve:

supplies:

• lower ___
• side of the ___
• upper ___
• front of the ___
• nasal ___

Answer 36

lower eyelid
side of the nose
upper lip
front of the cheek
nasal vestibule

Question 37

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary nerve:
infraorbital nerve:

fiber types (2)

Answer 37

general sensory from V2

postganglionic sympathetic fibers from the deep petrosal nerve

Question 38

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary artery:

the (smaller/larger) terminal branch of the ___ artery arising behind the ___

the passes through the ___ fissure from the ___ fossa into the ___ fossa where it terminates as the (1st/2nd/3rd) part of the ___ artery

Answer 38

larger
external carotid artery
neck of the mandible

pterygomaxillary fissure
infratemporal fossa
pterygopalatine fossa
3rd part of the maxillary artery

Question 39

pterygopalatine fossa:
maxillary artery:

the 3rd part of the maxillary artery gives rise to branches which accompany branches of the ___ nerve

the ___ artery to the ___ cavity is the terminal branch of the maxillary artery

Answer 39

maxillary nerve

sphenopalatine artery
nasal cavity

Question 40

pterygopalatine fossa:
veins of the pterygopalatine fossa:

veins that drain areas supplied by branches of the terminal part of the ___ artery generally travel along these branches back into the ___ fossa

the veins drain into the ___ plexus in the ___ fossa

Answer 40

maxillary artery
pterygopalatine fossa

pterygoid venous plexus
infratemporal fossa