PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA
- Pterygopalatine fossa
- Boundaries
- Anterior
- Superomedial part of posterior surface of maxilla
- Posterior
- Root of pterygoid process and adjoining part of anterior surface of greater wing of sphenoid
- Medial
- Upper part of perpendicular plate of palatine bone
- Orbital and sphenoidal process of bone
- Lateral
- Fossa opens in to infratemporal fossa through pterygomaxillary fissure
- Superior
- Undersurface of body of sphenoid
- Inferior
- Closed by pyramidal process of palatine bone in angle between maxilla and pterygoid process
- Communications
- Anteriorly
- With orbit
- Through medial end of inferior orbital fissure
- Posteriorly
- Middle cranial fossa
- Foramen rotundum
- Pterygoid canal
- Foramen lacerum
- Pharynx
- Palatovaginal canal
- Medially
- Nose
- Sphenopalatine foramen
- Laterally
- Infratemporal fossa through
- Pterygomaxillary fissure
- Inferiorly
- Oral cavity
- Through greater and lesser palatine canals
- contents
- Maxillary nerve
- Pterygopalatine ganglion
- Features
- Largest parasympathetic peripheral ganglion
- Roots
- Parasympathetic root
- Nerve of pterygoid canal
- Carries preganglionic fibres
- Arise from superior salivatory and lacrimatory nuclei
- Pass through
- Post ganglionic fibers
- Supply secretomotor fibers to lacrimal gland
- Mucous glands of nose , paranasal sinuses
- Nasopharynx and palate
- Sympathetic root
- Nerve of pterygoid canal
- Postganglionic sympathetic fibers
- Arising from superior cervical sympathetic ganglion
- Pass through internal carotid plexus , deep petrosal nerve and nerve of pterygoid canal
- To reach PTG
- Pass through ganglion without relay
- SENSORY ROOT
- come from maxillary nerve
- Pass through ganglion without relay
- BRANCHES
- orbital branches
- Palatine branches - greater or anterior palatine nerve
- Lesser or middle and posterior palatine nerves
- Nasal branches
- Lateral posterior superior nasal branches
- Medial posterior superior nasal branches
