dosumu o - bowen university
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DOSUMU O.O
Introduction
➢A small space behind and below the orbital cavity.
➢An inverted 'tear-drop' shaped space between bones on the lateral side of the skull immediately posterior to the maxilla.
Skeletal framework The walls of the pterygopalatine fossa are formed by parts of the palatine,
maxilla, and sphenoid bones:
• Anterior wall - posterior surface of the maxilla;
• Medial wall - lateral surface of the palatine bone;
• Posterior wall and Roof - parts of the sphenoid bone.
communicationsAlthough small in size, the pterygopalatine fossa communicates via fissures and foramina in its walls:
Middle cranial fossa via foramen rotundum and pterygoid canal
Nasopharynx – pterygovaginal canal
Infratemporal fossa – pterygomaxillary fissure
Floor of the orbit – inferior orbital fissure
Lateral wall of the nasal cavity – sphenopalatine foramen
Oral cavity (hard palate) – palatine canal
Contents
The pterygopalatine fossa houses many
important neurovascular structures. Among these
are the:
maxillary nerve [V2]
pterygopalatine ganglion
terminal part of the maxillary artery
veins, as well as their associated branches.
Maxillary Nerve (V2)
▪ Purely sensory
▪ Originates from the trigeminal
ganglion in the cranial cavity
▪ Enters the pterygopalatine fossa
thru foramen rotundum
▪ Exits as the infra-orbital nerve thru
inferior orbital fissure
▪ Gives sensory fibers to the skin of
the face and the side of the nose.
At the pterygopalatine
fossa, the maxillary nerve
(V2) gives rise to:
the zygomatic nerve,
the posterior superior
alveolar nerve,
two ganglionic branches,
Its main trunk however,
continues into the inferior
orbital fissure as the
infraorbital nerve.
Within the fossa, the maxillary nerve is attached to
the pterygopalatine ganglion by two ganglionic
branches.
Branches
More anteriorly
posterior superior
alveolar nerves are
given off.
Pass through the
pterygopalatine
maxillary fissure into
the infratemporal
fossa.
Here they divide into numerous small branches
• Enter the maxilla through the posterior alveolar foramina Supply the upper molar teeth, the mucous membrane on the buccal
surface of the associated alveolar process and the lining of the maxillary
sinus.
Anesthesia
of the upper
molar teeth
and
associated
buccal
mucosa can
be achieved
by a
posterior
superior
alveolar
block.
As the maxillary nerve is
about to enter the inferior
orbital fissure it gives rise
to the zygomatic nerve;
divides into:
Zygomaticotemporalbranch passing into
temporal fossa to supply
skin of the temple
Zygomaticofacial nerve
supplies skin over the
prominence of cheek.