The pterygopalatine fossa is a small, paired, pyramidal bony space in the skull.

Figure 1. The pterygopalatine fossa (in purple)

Description

The pterygopalatine fossa is a pyramidal-shaped area on each side just poste­rior to the upper jaw.

  • It serves as a passageway for many nerves and vessels from the major components of the viscerocranium.
  • It extends posteriorly, between the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone and anteriorly, to the rounded posterior aspect of the maxilla.

Borders

AnteriorThe posterior surface of the maxilla
Posterior The pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone
Lateral Opens to the infratemporal fossa
Medial Perpendicular plate of the palatine bone
Superior Body of the sphenoid bone
Inferior Pyramidal process of the palatine bone
Table 1. Borders of the pterygopalatine fossa

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