Applied anatomy of the pterygopalatine fossa

Objective: To provide anatomiatic information for operation of pterygopalatine fossa by observing the anatomical structures of pterygopalatine fossa and measuring the anatomical relations of branches of its maxillary artery and nerve. Methods: Eighty pieces(40 examples) of dry skull and 40 pieces(20 examples) of corpses fixed with formalin were desected. The intersection point of the second permanent maxillary molar and alveolar ridge was used as control point. The lengths of the midate point of circular hole,the midate point of sphenopalatine foramen leading edge,the point of infraorbital groove start,gilled tube and canalis pterygopalatinusp from control point were measured. The length of maxillary artery and nerve branches from control point were also measured and observed. Results: Pterygopalatine fossa was a irregular inverted cone. The average lengths of the midate point of circular hole, the midate point of sphenopalatine foramen leading edge,the point of infraorbital groove start,gilled tube and canalis pterygopalatinusp from control point were (48.47 ±2.63),(41.07 ±3.25),(39.91 ±1.84),(47.54 ±2.66),(44.48 ±1.92) and (30.70 ±1.45) mm,respectively. The average lengths of maxillary nerve trunk,superior alveolar nerve,nervi pterygopalatini nerve and sphenopalatine nerve from control point were(50.34 ±3.46),(36.39 ±2.65),(34.72 ±2.77) and(37.43 ±3.12) mm respectively. The average lengths of maxillary artery trunk,posterior superior alveolar artery,infraorbital art,escending palatine artery,and sphenopalatine artery from control point were(32.91 ±2.74),(26.36 ±1.67),(30.96 ±2.02),(31.24 ±2.49) and(30.50 ±2.38) mm,respectively. Conclusions: The intersection point of the second permanent maxillary molar and alveolar ridge was a important mark for looking for the anatomy of pterygopalatine fossa,which could be divided into the nervous layer and vascular layer.