Pterygopalatine Fossa and Palate - LO 9
9. What are the major branches of the maxillary a. associated with the pterygopalatine fossa? What structures do these arteries supply?
The sphenopalatine a. is one of the terminal branches of the maxillary a. (greater/descending palatine a. is the other). This artery is the main arterial supply for the mucosa of the nasal cavity and forms many anastomoses in this area. The sphenopalatine a. has two main branches: posterior lateral nasal brs. and posterior septal brs. The posterior lateral nasal brs. anastomose with nasal brs. of the greater palatine a. and ethmoidal aa., and supply mucosa covering or lining paranasal sinuses, conchae, and meatuses. The posterior septal brs. also have extensive anastomoses: ethmoidal aa., superior labial a., and greater palatine a. These anastomoses form Kiesselbach’s plexus, which is a common source of epistaxis (nose bleeds).
The infra-orbital a. follows a very similar path as the infra-orbital n. This artery anastomoses with branches of the facial a. and ophthalmic a.
The descending palatine a. descends from the pterygopalatine fossa through the greater palatine canal. The continuation of this artery is the greater palatine a. Not all sources distinguish between the descending and greater palatine aa.
The primary vascular supply for the hard palate is derived from the greater palatine a., a branch of the descending palatine a. (third part of maxillary a.). This artery descends through the palatine canal, gives rise to lesser palatine branches, and traverses the greater palatine foramen (next to maxillary, second molars) to supply the hard palate and associated mucosa. The lesser palatine aa. exit through the lesser palatine foramina to supply the soft palate.
The artery of pterygoid canal travels through the pterygoid canal with the nerve of pterygoid canal. It has extensive anastomoses with sphenopalatine, pharyngeal, and ethmoidal aa., and supplies the tympanic cavity, auditory tube, and superior portion of the pharynx. Occasionally, the artery of pterygoid canal is a branch of internal carotid a.
