Lec 10 Human Anatomy Dr.
Muhammed Alazzawi
The Pterygopalatine Fossa
The pterygopalatine fossa lies beneath the posterior surface of the maxilla and the
pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone. The pterygopalatine fossa contains the
maxillary nerve, the maxillary artery (third part) and the pterygopalatine parasympathetic
ganglion
Boundaries
Communications and openings
Branches from the main maxillary nerve trunk
1. Meningeal nerve 2. Ganglionic branches 3. Zygomatic nerve
{zygomaticotemporal nerve, zygomaticofacial nerve}
4. Infraorbital nerve middle {superior alveolar nerve, anterior superior alveolar nerve}
5. Posterior superior alveolar nerve
THE PTERYGOPALATINE GANGLION
This parasympathetic ganglion is situated below the maxillary nerve in the
pterygopalatine fossa, connected by two ganglionic branches. It is concerned primarily
with supplying the nose, palate, and lacrimal gland.
As with other parasympathetic ganglia in the head, three types of fibers enter the
pterygopalatine ganglion: parasympathetic, sympathetic, and sensory fibers. However,
only the parasympathetic fibers synapse in the ganglion. The preganglionic
parasympathetic fibers originate from the superior salivatory nucleus in the brainstem.
The fibers pass with the nervus intermedius of the facial nerve. They subsequently
emerge as the greater (superficial) petrosal nerve. This occurs within the facial canal of
the temporal bone, close to the geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve. The greater
petrosal nerve enters the pterygoid canal. Postganglionic sympathetic fibers run to the
pterygopalatine ganglion by a complex course. From the superior cervical ganglion,
sympathetic fibers run to the internal carotid plexus surrounding the internal carotid
artery. From this plexus, a branch called the deep petrosal nerve is given off that enters
the pterygoid canal to reach the pterygopalatine ganglion. The greater petrosal nerve
and the deep petrosal nerve join within the pterygoid canal to become the nerve of the
pterygoid canal. The sensory fibers to the ganglion run in the ganglionic branches of the
maxillary nerve.
The nerves leaving the pterygopalatine ganglion are the orbital nerve, the nasopalatine
nerve, the greater and lesser palatine nerves, the posterior superior and inferior nasal
nerves, and the pharyngeal nerve. The parasympathetic component will be distributed
within these nerves to supply the minor salivary glands.
The parasympathetic component of the pterygopalatine ganglion is also responsible for
supplying the lacrimal gland. The fibers first pass from the ganglion in one of the
ganglionic branches to the maxillary nerve. They then travel with the zygomatic and
zygomaticotemporal branches. Within the orbit, they pass from the zygomaticotemporal
nerve to the lacrimal nerve (of the ophthalmic nerve) to reach the lacrimal gland.
Branches from the pterygopalatine ganglion:
Orbital nerve, Nasopalatine nerve, Posterior superior nasal nerve, Posterior inferior nasal
nerve, Greater (anterior) palatine nerve, Lesser (posterior) palatine nerve
Pharyngeal branch
Branches of trunk and pterygopalatine ganglion of maxillary CN V
THE VEINS OF THE PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA
The veins of the pterygopalatine fossa are small and variable. The most consistent is the
sphenopalatine vein. This vein drains the posterior aspect of the nose and passes into
the pterygopalatine fossa through the sphenopalatine foramen. It drains into the
pterygoid venous plexus via the pterygomaxillary fissure. The inferior ophthalmic vein in
the floor of the orbit provides a connecting branch to the pterygoid venous plexus. This
vein passes through the inferior orbital fissure in the region of the pterygopalatine fossa.
