What is the shape of Pterygopalatine fossa?
The pterygopalatine fossa (PPF), less commonly known as the sphenopalatine fossa, is a small but complex space of the deep face in the shape of an inverted pyramid located between the maxillary bone anteriorly, the pterygoid process posteriorly, and orbital apex superiorly.
What structures are in the infratemporal fossa?
Contents
- medial and lateral pterygoid muscles.
- temporalis muscle.
- maxillary artery and branches.
- pterygoid venous plexus.
- mandibular nerve and its branches (including lingual nerve)
- chorda tympani nerve.
- posterior superior alveolar nerve of maxillary nerve.
What is found in the infratemporal fossa?
The infratemporal fossa serves as the passageway for many neurovascular structures. In addition to this, it contains superficial muscles like the inferior portion of the temporalis muscle, the lateral pterygoid muscle and the medial pterygoid muscle.
What lies in Pterygoid fossa?
The lateral and medial pteryoid plates (of the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone) diverge behind and enclose between them a V-shaped fossa, the pterygoid fossa. This fossa faces posteriorly, and contains the medial pterygoid muscle and the tensor veli palatini muscle.
What is in the Vidian Canal?
The vidian canal (VC), a bony tunnel in which the vidian artery and nerve pass, has been widely known as an important landmark to identify the anterior genu of the petrous carotid artery (AGPCA) especially during lateral extended endoscopic endonasal approachs (LEEEAs).
What is pterygopalatine fossa?
In human anatomy, the pterygopalatine fossa (sphenopalatine fossa) is a fossa in the skull. A human skull contains two pterygopalatine fossae—one on the left side, and another on the right side….
| Pterygopalatine fossa | |
|---|---|
| TA2 | 429 |
| FMA | 75309 |
| Anatomical terms of bone |
What is the clinical significance of infratemporal fossa?
The clinical significance of the infratemporal fossa involves neoplastic and infectious processes that can either arise from this area or spread to it. Pathology found in this region tends to spread posteriorly due to anterior, medial, and lateral bony barriers present in the infratemporal fossa.
What nerve is infratemporal fossa?
Mandibular nerve which is the third branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V3), also known as the “inferior maxillary nerve” or nervus mandibularis, enters infratemporal fossa from middle cranial fossa through foramen ovale.
Why is the infratemporal fossa important?
Nerves coursing through and around the infratemporal fossa are responsible for providing a vast majority of sensory and motor function to the lower face and other important structures such as the dura mater.
What is infratemporal fossa tumors?
Neoplastic processes involving the infratemporal fossa may originate from the tissues in the region, but more often are the result of extension from neighboring structures. Metastatic lesions located in the region are rarely encountered. Because of its concealed localization, tumors may remain unnoticed for some time.
What is Sphenopalatine fossa?
In human anatomy, the pterygopalatine fossa (sphenopalatine fossa) is a fossa in the skull. A human skull contains two pterygopalatine fossae—one on the left side, and another on the right side. It is the indented area medial to the pterygomaxillary fissure leading into the sphenopalatine foramen.
What does the Vidian nerve do?
Vascular innervation Parasympathetic fibres that arise in the sphenopalatine ganglion to form the vidian nerve control vasodilatation and glandular secretion.