Pterygopalatine fossa

The pterygopalatine fossa is a depression at the Skull base and is shaped like an inverted pyramid at the junction of the Maxilla, Os palatinum, and Os sphenoidale. The pterygopalatine fossa is connected to the Foramen rotundummiddle cranial fossa

Anatomy

In addition to adipose tissue, the pterygopalatine fossa contains the following anatomical structures[^1]:

• Pterygopalatine ganglion

• Maxillary nerve with its branches: zygomatic nerve, posterior superior alveolar nerve, infraorbital nerve

• Nerve of the pterygoid canal (Vidian nerve)

• Distal branch of the Maxillary artery

• Emissary veins

Figure