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