What is the sphenopalatine foramen?
The sphenopalatine foramen (SPF) represents an opening on the lateral nasal wall that is present at the articulation between the superior aspect of the vertical portion of the palatine bone and the inferior projection of the sphenoid bone.
What structure passes through the pterygopalatine fossa?
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….
| Pterygopalatine fossa | |
|---|---|
| FMA | 75309 |
| Anatomical terms of bone |
What does the infratemporal fossa contain?
The infratemporal fossa contains the mandibular nerve, the inferior alveolar nerve, the lingual nerve, the buccal nerve, the chorda tympani nerve, and the otic ganglion.
Why is pterygopalatine fossa important?
The pterygopalatine fossa is an important pathway for the spread of neoplastic and infectious processes: medially: communicates with the nasal cavity via the sphenopalatine foramen, which transmits the sphenopalatine artery, the nasopalatine nerve and the posterior superior nasal nerves.
What runs through foramen lacerum?
The two nerves that pass from the foramen lacerum are the greater petrosal nerve, which represents the pre-ganglionic parasympathetic fibers, and the deep petrosal nerve which, representing the post-ganglionic sympathetic fibers.
What runs in pterygopalatine fossa?
Pterygoid and Pharyngeal Canals These two canals, along with the foramen rotundum, are the three openings in the posterior wall of the pterygopalatine fossa: Pterygoid canal – runs from the middle cranial fossa and through the medial pterygoid plate. It carries the nerve, artery and vein of the pterygoid canal.
Where does the sphenopalatine artery originate?
The sphenopalatine artery is a terminal branch of the internal maxillary artery originating from the external carotid artery system. [4] The SPA is the major blood vessel to the nasal cavity mucosa: supplying the superior, middle, and inferior turbinate; lateral nasal wall; and nasal septum.
What passes through each foramen?
The human skull has numerous holes known as foramina through which cranial nerves, arteries, veins, and other structures pass.