The pterygopalatine fossa is a space resembling gaps; it is located in the lateral sectors of the human skull. This part of the body is characterized by an irregular shape, which is limited to a tubercle in front of the upper jaw, and behind it is the pterygoid process.
Detailed anatomy
The pterygopalatine fossa is partially framed by a significant wing of the bone in the form of a wedge. Going deeper into the anatomy of this space, you can also notice that from the inside it is surrounded by the outer surface from the palatine bone plate located perpendicularly.
Outside, this space is in contact with the infratemporal structure directly through the gap, which is called the pterygo-maxillary. Where are the boundaries of the pterygopalatine fossa?
At the top, the fossa in front is connected to the orbit through the lower orbital fissure, and inside there is contact with the nasal cavity passing through the wedge-shaped palatine opening. Behind the anatomy of this space is arranged in such a way that it is clearly visible how it connects to the cranial cavity through an oval hole. Bottom is its transition into a thin large palatine canal, which opens through large and small palatine gaps into the oral cavity. The average dimensions of the pterygopalatine fossa are considered in the forward direction six millimeters, and in the transverse dimension it is nine, while the height reaches the mark of eighteen units.
During childhood, the fossa is a tiny formation in the form of a gap, which begins to increase from three years. The second branch of the triple nerve is located in the fiber-filled fossa, which is referred to as the maxillary nerve with branching zygomatic and pterygopalatine nerves, as well as the posterior superior alveolar junction. These weaves go through the openings of the tubercles of the upper jaw. In addition, in the pterygopalatine fossa lies a node consonant with its name.
What are the messages of the pterygopalatine fossa with?
Branches of arteries
Branches of the so-called maxillary arteries go through the fossa, namely:
- infraorbital artery;
- descending palatine;
- sphenoid palatine artery.
In the pit space and in the temporal cavity adjacent to it, pterygoid venous weaves are selectively located.
The fossa is supposedly projected onto the surface of the face as an isosceles triangle, its upper part runs along the line that connects the ear point with the outer edges of the orbits in the direction of the zygomatic arch. The front, as well as the rear, is at an angle of sixty degrees.
X-ray anatomy of the pterygopalatine fossa
An x-ray image of the fossa space appears on the images of the skull as a result of lateral projections. During such operations, a total overlap of both dimples on each other can occur. Such measures may make it somewhat difficult to evaluate the investigated palatal space located closer to the cassette during x-ray. To achieve a separate picture, the head of the patient under study is turned from a lateral position with his face slightly in the region of the cartridge, this should be carried out within ten degrees. Isolated images of the analyzed fossa are achieved using tomography. You can see the openings of the pterygopalatine fossa.
Separate area of ​​enlightenment
With difficult to see images of the skull, it is isolated in the form of a section of enlightenment, which stretches vertically at a distance equal to approximately two centimeters. This site originates as angular enlightenment, starting from the point of the alveolar process of the jaw, and then it expands upward. Then this section goes into the upper region of the orbit. In such an area, its transverse dimension reaches about nine millimeters, 9 mm, and borders that diverge and create an angle reaching fifteen degrees. On top of the fossa is framed by part of the base of the skull in the form of some arcs that are created by large parts of the sphenoid bone.
Possible damage to the pterygopalatine fossa
When the upper jaw or the base of the skull is damaged, then during the implementation of anesthesia and extraction of molars, the appearance of ruptures and injuries of blood vessels, as well as nerves, which are located in the pterygopalatine space. The hematomas that arise in this case may not dissolve for a rather long time. Situations when vascular aneurysms occur are also possible. Gunshot wounds of skeletal bone structures, which are accompanied by an incorrect bone ratio and form a pterygopalatine fossa, can also lead to trauma to nerve endings and blood vessels. After the transfer of shrapnel wounds, foreign bodies, such as metal fragments, pieces of teeth, etc., may remain in the pit. This is likely to provoke prolonged inflammatory processes. The methods for repairing her injuries are based on the treatment of defects in the jaw and other bones that form her plates. Removal of foreign bodies, as well as fragments, is most often carried out by opening the maxillary sinus, or through an external wound.
Diseases
Purulent inflammations of this space usually occur due to an increase in pain processes from the area in the area of ​​the temples, or develop after damage. The most dangerous are the so-called phlegmon of the pterygopalatine fossa, which can rapidly spread into the orbit, oral cavity, or in the region of the maxillary sinus of the skull. In such cases, surgical treatment should be undertaken. For these purposes, incisions are made from the vestibule of the oral cavity in the posterior upper part of the mucous membrane, and then carefully try to get into the depths using, for example, closed scissors, a Kocher probe, and the like. A rubber turunda or drainage is introduced into the space, which should be fixed by a ligature from the edge of the wound. A wound is usually irrigated with antibiotics or an antiseptic. In diseases such as neuralgia and neuritis, the necessary medications can be introduced into the pterygopalatine fossa in order to affect the nerves and blood vessels.