Pterygopalatine Fossa and Palate - LO 6
6. What are the walls/boundaries of the pterygopalatine fossa? What are the major structures located (or traveling through) this fossa?
The pterygopalatine fossa is a space located between the nasopharynx (medially) and the infratemporal fossa (laterally). Its boundaries include:
Lateral: pterygomaxillary fissure
Medial: palatine bone
Anterior: posterior wall of maxilla
Posterior: anterior surface of greater wing of sphenoid
Two openings: foramen rotundum and pterygoid canal
Roof: body of sphenoid
Contents of the pterygopalatine fossa include:
Maxillary n. (V2) and branches
Pterygopalatine ganglion
3rd part of maxillary a. and branches
The pterygopalatine fossa communicates with:
Orbit: via the inferior orbital fissure
Oral cavity: via the greater & lesser palatine canals
Nasal cavity: via the sphenopalatine foramen
Infratemporal fossa: via the pterygomaxillary fissure
A pathway from the infratemporal fossa (lateral) to the sphenopalatine foramen (medial) can be succinctly described as:
Infratemporal fossa → Pterygomaxillary fissure → Pterygopalatine fossa → Sphenopalatine foramen