The pterygopalatine fossa

Question 1

what causes hay fever?

Answer 1

-acute inflammation of nasal mucosa: dilated blood vessels
-activation of “ganglion of hayfever” (pterygopalatine ganglion)
nasal glands secrete mucus
lacrimal gland produces tears

Question 2

where is the pterygopalatine fossa located?

Answer 2

• beneath the apex of the orbital cone
• anterior to the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone
• posterior to the maxilla
• medial to the infratemporal fossa
• lateral to the postero-superior part of the lateral wall of the nasal cavity

Question 3

what does the pterygopaltine fossa communicate with?

Answer 3

-the orbit- via inferior orbital fissure (anteriorly)
-the middle cranial fossa-via foramen rotundum & pterygoid canal (posteriorly)
-the infratemporal fossa
via pterygomaxillary fissure (laterally)
-the nasal cavity
via sphenopalatine foramen (medially)

Question 4

what comes from pterygopalatine fossa to nasal cavity?

Answer 4

sphenopalatine foramen

Question 5

where is the sphenopalatine foreman found?

Answer 5

in lateral wall of nasal cavity, between body of sphenoid & perpendicular plate of palatine bone

Question 6

what does the pterygopalatine fossa contain?

Answer 6

• terminal 1/3rd of the maxillary artery
• CN Vb
• pterygopalatine ganglion (“ganglion of hayfever”)

Question 7

what is the continuation of the maxillary artery?

Answer 7

sphenopalatine artery

Question 8

what supplies the molars?

Answer 8

posterior superior alveolar artery

Question 9

what supplies the anterior teeth?

Answer 9

anterior superior alveolar artery

Question 10

what supplies the premolars?

Answer 10

middle superior alveolar artery

Question 11

what nerve passes through the spehnopalatine fossa with the spehnopalatine artery?

Answer 11

nasopalatine nerve

Question 12

what is the nerve supply to the anterior part of the nasal cavity?

Answer 12

anterior ethmoidal branch of nasocilliary (CN V1)

Question 13

what supplies the posterior part of the nasal cavity?

Answer 13

• lateral wall - lateral nasal branches of greater palatine nerve (V2)
• septum- nasopalatine nerve (V2)

Question 14

what is the terminal branch of V2?

Answer 14

infraorbital

Question 15

what does the internal carotid nerve carry?

Answer 15

post ganglionic sympathetic fibres into the deep petrosal nerve

Question 16

what does the greater petrosal nerve (branch of CN VII) carry?

Answer 16

Pre ganglionic parasympathetic fibres

Question 17

what does the deep petrosal nerve (extension of plexus) carry?

Answer 17

post ganglion sympathetic fibres

Question 18

what nerve is a combination of the greater petrosal and deep petrosal?

Answer 18

nerve of the pterygoid canal

Question 19

where do pre ganglionic parasympathetic fibres synspase?

Answer 19

pterygopalatine ganglion (of hay fever)

Question 20

what does not synapse at the pterygopalatine ganglion?

Answer 20

post ganglionic sympathetic fibres

Question 21

where do post-ganglionic sympathetic fibres come from?

Answer 21

in the internal carotid plexus from superior cervical sympathetic ganglion

Question 22

what bone does the greater petrosal nerve run over?

Answer 22

petrous temporal bone

Question 23

what are secretomotor fibres distributed to?

Answer 23

mucous glands of palate & nose and lacrimal gland

Question 24

what supplies post ganglionic parasympathetic and sympathetic fibres to the lacrimal gland?

Answer 24

the lacrimal nerve (V1) and the communicating branch of the zygomatic nerve (V2)

Question 25

what are the branches from the pterygopaltine ganglion?

Answer 25

-zygomatic nerve (carrying parasympathetic secretomotor fibres from VII to lacrimal gland)
-lateral nasal (to mucous membrane of lateral wall of nasal cavity)
-nasopalatine nerve
(to nasal septum)
- greater palatine nerve (to hard palate)
-lesser palatine nerve (to soft palate)
-nerve of pterygoid canal
-deep petrosal nerve (sympathetic fibres from carotid plexus)
-greater petrosal nerve (parasympathetic fibres from CN VII)

Question 26

what does the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve (Vb) give general sensation to?

Answer 26

• Mid-face skin
• Maxillary teeth & gingivae
• Mucosa of maxillary sinus
• Walls of nasal cavity
• Hard and soft palate

Question 27

what other function does the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve (Vb)?

Answer 27

Distributes Sympathetic & Parasympathetic (CN VII) secretomotor fibres from pterygopalatine ganglion to:

• Lacrimal gland
• Mucous glands of nasal cavity
• Minor salivary glands of the palate