Infratemporal Fossa - LO 6

6. What are the pterygoid plates, which muscles attach here, and what function does the pterygoid hamulus serve?

Functionally, the medial pterygoid plate is related to the pharyngeal region, and the lateral pterygoid plate is related to the infratemporal fossa.

The lateral pterygoid plate is a thin plate of bone, which forms the lateral part of a horseshoe-like process that extends from the inferior aspect of the sphenoid bone.

Lateral surface of lateral pterygoid plate:

• • Attachment of lateral pterygoid m.

  • Forms medial wall of infratemporal fossa

Medial surface of lateral pterygoid plate:

• • Attachment of medial pterygoid m.

  • Forms part of pterygoid fossa

The medial pterygoid plate is comparably longer than the lateral pterygoid plate, and has a distinctive process (the pterygoid hamulus) which extends inferolaterally. This plate of bone serves as an attachment point for the pterygomandibular raphe (the condensation of the pharyngobasilar fascia) and the superior pharyngeal constrictor m.

The pterygoid hamulus is a hook-like process at the lower aspect of the medial pterygoid plate. The tendon of the tensor veli palatini m. glides around the hamulus, and it serves as the superior attachment of the pterygomandibular raphe.