Pterygopalatine fossa (dave's notes)

Question 1

Describe the pterygopalatine fossa

Answer 1

A small space between the back of the maxilla and the front of the pterygoid process of the sphenoid.

Question 2

What does the pterygopalatine fossa communicate with? Via what?

Answer 2

The infratemporal fossa through the pterygomaxillary fissure

Question 3

What is the posterior boundary of the pterygopalatine fossa? What does this contain?

Answer 3

The sphenoid bone. This contains the pterygoid canal.

Question 4

What is the medial boundary of the pterygopalatine fossa?

Answer 4

The palatine bone

Question 5

What is the anterior boundary of the pterygopalatine fossa?

Answer 5

The posterior wall of the maxilla

Question 6

What is the roof of the pterygopalatine fossa?

Answer 6

The body of the sphenoid

Question 7

What happens to a wire passed through the pterygomaxillary fissure?

Answer 7

It passes across the pterygopalatine fossa to the nose through the sphenopalatine foramen

Question 8

How may a wire passed from the middle cranial fossa enter the pterygopalatine fossa?

Answer 8

From behind, via the foramen rotundum

Question 9

Where does a wire passed through the foramen lace rum entree?

Answer 9

Below and medial to the foramen rotundum

Question 10

How may a wire enter the pterygopalatine fossa from below?

Answer 10

Via the greater or lesser palatine foramen

Question 11

What happens to a wire passed through the palatovaginal canal? (how else is this canal known?). What follows this course?

Answer 11

A wire passed through the palatovaginal canal (roof of the nose) passes forwards in the fossa (course of the pharyngeal branch of the pterygopalatine ganglion).

Question 12

List the contents of the pterygopalatine fossa

Answer 12

Maxillary vessels
Maxillary nerve (CN Vb)
Pterygopalatine ganglion (branches to nose, palate)

Question 13

Describe the relations of the maxillary nerve within the pterygopalatine fossa. How does it enter the fossa? What does it give off first?

Answer 13

Gives a meningeal branch to the front of the medial cranial fossa then passes through the foramen rotundum into the pterygopalatine fossa. Here it deviates laterally entering into the infraorbital groove (to become the infraorbital nerve supplying skin on the face.

Question 14

What nerve also arises in the pterygopalatine fossa?

Answer 14

The zygomatic nerve. This also passes through the fissure to enter the orbit.

Question 15

What is connected to the pterygopalatine ganglion?

Answer 15

The maxillary nerve.