[ Ссылка ]
All 3 fossa's overview playlist
[ Ссылка ]
Temporal Fossa
[ Ссылка ]
Infratemporal fossa
[ Ссылка ]
The pterygopalatine fossa is a bilateral, cone-shaped depression extending deep from the infratemporal fossa all the way to the nasal cavity via the sphenopalatine foramen.
It is located between the maxilla, sphenoid and palatine bones, and communicates with other regions of the skull and facial skeleton via several canals and foramina. Its small volume combined with the numerous structures that pass through makes this a complex region for anatomy students.
Pterygopalatine fossa | boundaries | content | communications #pterygopalatinefossa #pterygopalatine
This article will discuss the pterygopalatine fossa, and consider the structures involved according to their respective foramina.
Borders
The borders of the pterygopalatine fossa are formed by the palatine, maxilla and sphenoid bones:
Pterygopalatine fossa | boundaries | content | communications #pterygopalatinefossa #pterygopalatine
Anterior: Posterior wall of the maxillary sinus.
Posterior: Pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone.
Inferior: Palatine bone and palatine canals.
Superior: Inferior orbital fissure of the eye.
Medial: Perpendicular plate of the palatine bone
Lateral: Pterygomaxillary fissure
Contents
The Pterygopalatine Fossa contains many important neurovascular structures. Here we will discuss the maxillary nerve and its branches, the pterygopalatine ganglion and the maxillary artery and its branches.
Maxillary Nerve
The maxillary nerve is the second branch of the trigeminal nerve (CNV2). It passes from the middle cranial fossa into the pterygopalatine fossa through the foramen rotundum.
The main trunk of the maxillary nerve leaves the pterygopalatine fossa via the infraorbital fissure. Here, it enters the infraorbital canal of the maxilla and exits below the orbit in the infraorbital foramen to contribute to the sensory innervation of the face (figures 2.0 & 2.1).
While in the pterygopalatine fossa, the maxillary nerve gives of numerous branches including the infraorbital, zygomatic, nasopalatine, superior alveolar, pharyngeal and the greater and lesser palatine nerves. The maxillary nerve also communicates with the pterygopalatine ganglion (discussed below) via two small trunks, the pterygopalatine nerves (figure 2.1). These nerves suspend the ganglion within the pterygopalatine fossa
It is the largest parasympathetic ganglion related to branches of the maxillary nerve (via pterygopalatine branches) and is predominantly innervated by the greater petrosal branch of the facial nerve (CNVII).
Postsynaptic parasympathetic fibres leave the ganglion and distribute with branches of the maxillary nerve (CNV2). These fibres are secretomotor in function, and provide parasympathetic innervation to the lacrimal gland, and muscosal glands of the oral cavity, nose and pharynx.
Pterygomaxillary Fissure
The pterygomaxillary fissure connects the infratemporal fossa with the pterygopalatine fossa (see figure 1). It transmits two neurovascular structures:
Posterior superior alveolar nerve – a branch of the maxillary nerve. It exits through the fissure into the infratemporal fossa, where it goes on to supply the maxillary molars.
Terminal part of the maxillary artery – enters the pterygopalatine fossa via the fissure.
Foramen Rotundum
The foramen rotundum connects the pterygopalatine fossa to the middle cranial fossa. It is one of three openings in the posterior boundary of the pterygopalatine fossa. It conducts a single structure, the maxillary nerve.
Pterygopalatine fossa | boundaries | content | communications #pterygopalatinefossa #pterygopalatine
Pterygoid and Pharyngeal Canals
These two canals, along with the foramen rotundum, are the three openings in the posterior wall of the pterygopalatine fossa:
Pterygoid canal – runs from the middle cranial fossa and through the medial pterygoid plate. It carries the nerve, artery and vein of the pterygoid canal.
Pharyngeal canal – communicates with the nasopharynx. It carries the pharyngeal branches of the maxillary nerve and artery.
Inferior Orbital Fissure
The inferior orbital fissure forms the superior boundary of the pterygopalatine fossa and communicates with the orbit. It is a space between the sphenoid and maxilla bones.
The zygomatic branch of the maxillary nerve and the infraorbital artery and vein pass through the inferior orbital fissure.
