What is the pterygopalatine fossa function?

What is the pterygopalatine fossa function?

The pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) is a small, clinically inaccessible, fat-filled space located in the deep face that serves as a major neurovascular crossroad between the oral cavity, nasal cavity, nasopharynx, orbit, masticator space, and the middle cranial fossa.

Where is the pterygopalatine fossa?

What is pterygopalatine fossa in anatomy?

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 contained in the pterygopalatine fossa?

At the pterygopalatine fossa, the maxillary nerve (V2) gives rise to the zygomatic nerve, the posterior superior alveolar nerve, and two ganglionic branches, while its main trunk continues into the inferior orbital fissure as the infraorbital nerve.

Where is Infratemporal fossa located?

The infratemporal fossa is a complex space of the face that lies posterolateral to the maxillary sinus and many important nerves and vessels traverse it. It lies below the skull base, between the pharyngeal sidewall and ramus of the mandible.

How big is the pterygopalatine fossa?

The pterygopalatine fossa can be assimilated to an inverted square-based pyramid. Its size varies depending on the development of the maxillary and sphenoid sinuses and is approximately 2 cm in height and 1 cm at the base.

What is meant by fossa?

In anatomy, a fossa (/ˈfɒsə/; plural fossae (/ˈfɒsiː/ or /ˈfɒsaɪ/); from the Latin “fossa”, ditch or trench) is a depression or hollow, usually in a bone, such as the hypophyseal fossa (the depression in the sphenoid bone). Some examples include: In the Skull: Cranial fossa.

What is in the Infratemporal fossa?

The infratemporal fossa is associated with the muscles of mastication. The medial and lateral pterygoids are located within the fossa itself, whilst the masseter and temporalis muscles insert and originate into the borders of the fossa.

What muscles are in 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 runs in the infratemporal fossa?

Prominent arteries present in the infratemporal fossa include the maxillary artery and associated branches, including the middle meningeal artery and accessory meningeal artery. The maxillary artery is the seventh branch of the external carotid artery.

What is the shape of the 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.

Where does the pterygopalatine fissure communicate with the sphenopalatine foramen?

It is the indented area medial to the pterygomaxillary fissure leading into the sphenopalatine foramen. It communicates with the nasal and oral cavities, infratemporal fossa, orbit, pharynx, and middle cranial fossa through eight foramina.

Which is the fossa on the left side of the skull?

Anatomical terms of bone. 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.

Where is the ganglion of the pterygopalatine located?

The pterygopalatine fossa contains the pterygopalatine ganglion suspended by nerve roots from the maxillary nerve the terminal third of the maxillary artery