Pterygopalatine fossa
Encyclopedia
The pterygopalatine fossa is a fossa
in the skull
. It is the indented area medial to the pterygomaxillary fissure
leading into the sphenopalatine foramen
.
Fossa (anatomy)
In anatomical terminology, fossa has come to mean a depression or hollow, in general, in a bone. Other parts of the body may be involved, for example, the antecubital fossa...
in the skull
Human skull
The human skull is a bony structure, skeleton, that is in the human head and which supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.In humans, the adult skull is normally made up of 22 bones...
. It is the indented area medial to the pterygomaxillary fissure
Pterygomaxillary fissure
The pterygomaxillary fissure is a fissure of the human skull. It is vertical, and descends at right angles from the medial end of the inferior orbital fissure; it is a triangular interval, formed by the divergence of the maxilla from the pterygoid process of the sphenoid.It connects the...
leading into the sphenopalatine foramen
Sphenopalatine foramen
The sphenopalatine foramen is a foramen in the skull that connects the nasal cavity with the pterygopalatine fossa.-Structure:The processes of the superior border of the palatine bone are separated by the sphenopalatine notch, which is converted into the sphenopalatine foramen by the under surface...
.
Boundaries
It has the following boundaries:- anterior: superomedial part of the infratemporal surface of maxillaMaxillaThe maxilla is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper jaw. This is similar to the mandible , which is also a fusion of two halves at the mental symphysis. Sometimes The maxilla (plural: maxillae) is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper...
- posterior: root of the pterygoid process and adjoining anterior surface of the greater wing of sphenoid boneSphenoid boneThe sphenoid bone is an unpaired bone situated at the base of the skull in front of the temporal bone and basilar part of the occipital bone.The sphenoid bone is one of the seven bones that articulate to form the orbit...
- medial: perpendicular platePerpendicular plate of palatine boneThe vertical part of the palatine bone is thin, of an oblong form, and presents two surfaces and four borders.- Surfaces :...
of the palatine bonePalatine boneThe palatine bone is a bone in many species of the animal kingdom, commonly termed the palatum .-Human anatomy:...
and its orbital sphenoidal processes - lateral: pterygomaxillary fissurePterygomaxillary fissureThe pterygomaxillary fissure is a fissure of the human skull. It is vertical, and descends at right angles from the medial end of the inferior orbital fissure; it is a triangular interval, formed by the divergence of the maxilla from the pterygoid process of the sphenoid.It connects the...
- inferior: part of the floor is formed by the pyramidal process of the palatine bone.
Passages
The following passages connect the fossa with other parts of the skull:| Direction | Passage | Connection >- | Posteriorly |
foramen rotundum Foramen rotundum The foramen rotundum is a circular hole in the sphenoid bone that connects the middle cranial fossa and the pterygopalatine fossa.-Structure:... |
middle cranial fossa Middle cranial fossa The middle fossa, deeper than the anterior cranial fossa, is narrow medially and widens laterally to the sides of the skull. It is separated from the posterior fossa by the clivus and the petrous crest.... >- | Posteriorly |
pterygoid canal Pterygoid canal The pterygoid canal is a passage in the skull leading from just anterior to the foramen lacerum in the middle cranial fossa to the pterygopalatine fossa.-Structure:... (Vidian) |
middle cranial fossa Middle cranial fossa The middle fossa, deeper than the anterior cranial fossa, is narrow medially and widens laterally to the sides of the skull. It is separated from the posterior fossa by the clivus and the petrous crest.... , foramen lacerum Foramen lacerum The foramen lacerum is a triangular hole in the base of the skull located at the base of the medial pterygoid plate.-Transit through the foramen lacerum:... >- | Posteriorly |
palatovaginal canal (pharyngeal) | nasal cavity Nasal cavity The nasal cavity is a large air filled space above and behind the nose in the middle of the face.- Function :The nasal cavity conditions the air to be received by the other areas of the respiratory tract... /nasopharynx Nasopharynx The nasopharynx is the uppermost part of the pharynx. It extends from the base of the skull to the upper surface of the soft palate; it differs from the oral and laryngeal parts of the pharynx in that its cavity always remains patent .-Lateral:On its lateral wall is the pharyngeal ostium of the... >- | Anteriorly |
inferior orbital fissure Inferior orbital fissure Not to be confused with the infraorbital groove, infraorbital canal, and infraorbital foramen.The lateral wall and the floor of the orbit are separated posteriorly by the inferior orbital fissure which transmits the maxillary nerve and its zygomatic branch, and the ascending branches from the... |
orbit Orbit (anatomy) In anatomy, the orbit is the cavity or socket of the skull in which the eye and its appendages are situated. "Orbit" can refer to the bony socket, or it can also be used to imply the contents... >- | Medially |
sphenopalatine foramen Sphenopalatine foramen The sphenopalatine foramen is a foramen in the skull that connects the nasal cavity with the pterygopalatine fossa.-Structure:The processes of the superior border of the palatine bone are separated by the sphenopalatine notch, which is converted into the sphenopalatine foramen by the under surface... |
nasal cavity Nasal cavity The nasal cavity is a large air filled space above and behind the nose in the middle of the face.- Function :The nasal cavity conditions the air to be received by the other areas of the respiratory tract... >- | Laterally |
pterygomaxillary fissure Pterygomaxillary fissure The pterygomaxillary fissure is a fissure of the human skull. It is vertical, and descends at right angles from the medial end of the inferior orbital fissure; it is a triangular interval, formed by the divergence of the maxilla from the pterygoid process of the sphenoid.It connects the... |
infratemporal fossa Infratemporal fossa The infratemporal fossa is an irregularly shaped cavity, situated below and medial to the zygomatic arch.* anteriorly, by the infratemporal surface of the maxilla and the ridge which descends from its zygomatic process... >- | Inferiorly |
greater palatine canal Greater palatine canal The greater palatine canal is a passage in the skull that transmits the greater palatine artery, vein, and nerve between the pterygopalatine fossa and the oral cavity.-Structure:... (pterygopalatine) |
oral cavity, lesser palatine canals Lesser palatine canals The lesser palatine canals are passages in the palatine bone that carry the lesser and middle palatine nerves and vessels.-Structure:... |
Contents
The pterygopalatine fossa contains- the pterygopalatine ganglionPterygopalatine ganglionThe pterygopalatine ganglion is a parasympathetic ganglion found in the pterygopalatine fossa. It is one of four parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck....
suspended by nerve roots from the maxillary nerve - the terminal third of the maxillary artery
- the maxillary nerve (CN V2, the second division of the trigeminal nerve), with which is the nerve of the pterygoid canal, a combination of the greater petrosal nerve (preganglionic parasympathetic) and the deep petrosal nerveDeep petrosal nerveThe deep petrosal nerve is given off from the carotid plexus, and runs through the carotid canal lateral to the internal carotid artery....
(postganglionic sympatheticSympathetic nervous systemThe sympathetic nervous system is one of the three parts of the autonomic nervous system, along with the enteric and parasympathetic systems. Its general action is to mobilize the body's nervous system fight-or-flight response...
). To obtain block anesthesia of the entire second division of the trigeminal nerve, an intraoral injection can be administered into this area.