What is the pterygomaxillary fissure?
What is the pterygomaxillary fissure?
Medical Definition of pterygomaxillary fissure : a vertical gap between the lateral pterygoid plate of the pterygoid process and the maxilla that descends at right angles to the medial end of the inferior orbital fissure and gives passage to part of the maxillary artery and vein.
What passes pterygomaxillary fissure?
It connects the infratemporal with the pterygopalatine fossa, and transmits the terminal part of the maxillary artery. The posterior superior alveolar nerve of the maxillary nerve goes from the pterygopalatine fossa to the infratemporal region via this fissure….
| Pterygomaxillary fissure | |
|---|---|
| FMA | 76627 |
| Anatomical terminology |
Where is the pterygomaxillary fissure?
It is located in the medial aspect of the temporal fossa and is formed by the divergence of the maxilla from the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone. It connects the infratemporal fossa with the pterygopalatine fossa.
What passes through the Pterygopalatine fissure?
The pterygomaxillary fissure transmits the posterior superior alveolar nerve, a branch of maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve from the pterygopalatine fossa to the infratemporal fossa. Terminal branches of the maxillary artery also enter the fissure.
What is superior orbital fissure?
The superior orbital fissure is a bony cleft found at the orbital apex between the roof and lateral wall. It is a communication between the orbital cavity and middle cranial fossa and is bounded by the greater wing, lesser wing and body of sphenoid.
What is infratemporal fossa?
The infratemporal fossa is an irregularly shaped cavity that is a part of the skull. It is situated below and medial to the zygomatic arch. It is not fully enclosed by bone in all directions.
Is Sphenopalatine fossa and pterygopalatine fossa same?
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 is the clinical significance of the pterygopalatine fossa?
Because of its location and associated connections, the pterygopalatine fossa is often involved in the spread of tumours, infections, and inflammations caused by neoplastic diseases in the head and neck (such as juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, bacterial sinusitis, etc.).
Which artery passes infratemporal fossa?
the maxillary artery
The infratemporal fossa contains the maxillary artery (originating from the external carotid artery). It also contains some of its branches, including the: middle meningeal artery. inferior alveolar artery.