MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA Dr. …

MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM

PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA

Dr. Jihad Alzyoud

Associate Professor of Anatomy

College of Medicine / The Hashemite

University

October 2021

Pterygopalatine Fossa boundaries

➢ The pterygopalatine fossa is a small pyramidal space

inferior to the apex of the orbit (behind and below the

orbital cavity)

Pterygopalatine Fossa boundaries

Thursday 6 May 2021Dr. Aiman Qaris Afar

➢ Anterosuperiorly with the orbit through the inferior orbital

fissure.

➢ Posterosuperiorly with the middle cranial fossa through the

foramen rotundum and pterygoid canal

➢ Medially with the nasal cavity through the sphenopalatine

foramen.

Pterygopalatine Fossa Communications

➢ Laterally with the infratemporal fossa

through the pterygomaxillary fissure.

➢ Inferiorly with oral cavity through the

palatine foramina

Pterygopalatine Fossa communications

Pterygopalatine Fossa communications

1. Maxillary Artery: Terminal (pterygopalatine or

third part)

2. Maxillary nerve, with which are associated the:

a. Nerve of the pterygoid canal

b. Pterygopalatine ganglion.

Pterygopalatine Fossa Contents

➢ The maxillary artery:

a terminal branch of the external carotid artery

Leaves the infratemporal fossa and enters the

pterygopalatine fossa through the

pterygomaxillary fissure. It lies anterior to the

pterygopalatine ganglion

➢ The artery gives rise to six branches that

accompany all nerves in the fossa with the same names.

Maxillary Artery 3rd Part

Pterygopalatine Fossa Contents

Maxillary Artery 3rd Part

Pterygopalatine Fossa Contents

Pterygopalatine Part of the Maxillary Artery

➢ The maxillary nerve enters the pterygopalatine fossa through the foramen rotundum and runs anterolaterally in the posterior part of the fossa

➢ The maxillary nerve gives off the1. zygomatic nerve, which divides into zygomaticofacial

and zygomaticotemporal nerves and supply general sensation to the lateral region of the cheek and temple

2. Superior alveolar neves

Maxillary Nerve

Pterygopalatine Fossa contents

➢ The zygomaticotemporal nerve also gives rise to a

communicating branch, which conveys parasympathetic

secretomotor fibers to the lacrimal gland by way of the

purely sensory lacrimal nerve from Ophthalmic N CN V1

➢ While in the pterygopalatine fossa, the maxillary nerve also

gives off the two pterygopalatine nerves that suspend the

Parasympathetic Pterygopalatine ganglion in the

superior part of the pterygopalatine fossa

➢ The maxillary nerve leaves the pterygopalatine fossa

through the inferior orbital fissure, after which it is known as the infraorbital nerve.

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Maxillary Nerve branches

Thursday 6 May 2021Dr. Aiman Qaris Afar

Pterygopalatine Fossa Contents

Maxillary Nerve branches

➢ Parasympathetic Pterygopalatine ganglion lies in the

superior part of the pterygopalatine fossa

➢ Connected to maxillary nerve by two pterygopalatine

nerves

➢ Receives the nerve of the Pterygoid Canal (Sympathetic

& Parasympathetic)

➢ Branches:

1. Greater and lesser palatine nerves

2. Orbital branches

3. Pharyngeal branch

4. Nasal branch14

Pterygopalatine ganglion

Pterygopalatine Fossa Contents

Veins that drain areas supplied by branches of the terminal part of the maxillary artery generally travel with these branches back into the pterygopalatine fossa Then through the pterygomaxillary fissure to join the pterygoid plexus of veins in the infratemporal fossa