The ala minor ossis sphenoidalis is a component of the human skull. They are located near the sphenoid bone. Their function is to help form the eye socket.
What is the ala minor ossis sphenoidalis?
The ala minor ossis sphenoidalis are part of the human skeletal system. They are translated as the small sphenoid wings. The sphenoid bone, as well as the associated sphenoid wing, are components of the skull. They are made of a bony structure. They are located in the posterior region of the face. The sphenoid bone forms the posterior part of the human eye socket. The ala minor ossis sphenoidalis consist of thin bone plates. They are divided into the anterior wings of the sphenoid bone and the posterior wings of the sphenoid bone. Both are bilateral and visually have a wing shape. They are formed from triangular bone plates. The sphenoid wings form small openings and thus places of passage for nerves and vessels. The sphenoid wings are very small components of the human skull. They serve as exit sites for the optic nerve or the V. cranial nerve. Through the openings of the ala minor ossis sphenoidalis, the eye can be supplied and visual information received is transported via the nerve pathways to the brain for further processing.
Anatomy and structure
The ala minor ossis sphenoidalis is a collective term for various small bones of the sphenoidal wings. are differentiated into the wings of the anterior sphenoid and the posterior sphenoid. The bilateral wings of the anterior sphenoid bone are called the ala ossis praesphenoidalis or ala minor. They form part of the posterior eye socket, the orbit. Both anterior sphenoid wings are traversed by the canalis opticus. The optic canalis consists of the optic nerve, the optic nerve, and the ophthalmic artery. The wings of the posterior sphenoid bone are also bilateral. They are called the ala ossis basisphenoidalis or ala major. The foramen ovale is located in them. This serves as the exit site for the V. cranial nerve, the mandibular nerve. At the posterior end of the sphenoid wing is the spinosal foramen. This serves the media meningeal artery as it enters the cranial cavity. The ala minor ossis sphenoidalis have a triangular and thus wing-shaped form. Because they form the posterior region of the orbit, they are palpable externally only in the temporal region to a small degree.
Function and tasks
The bone plates of the ala minor ossis sphenoidalis have the function of forming the posterior orbit. The human eye is sheltered in a cavity. This is completely surrounded by different structures of the brain skull. Light and colors are received via the eye. All visual stimuli are received via the individual components of the eye and transported to the cortex via the optic nerve. There they are evaluated and reactions are initiated. The optic nerve runs its course through the ala minor ossis sphenoidalis. This ensures, on the one hand, that the eye is supplied and, at the same time, that stimuli received reach the visual cortex by the fastest route. This is located in the back of the human head. Some visual stimuli are processed within a few milliseconds. For this to happen, the optic nerve needs a fast pathway to ensure stimulus processing. In addition, several blood vessels pass through the ala minor ossis sphenoidalis. Among them is the ophthalmic artery. This arterial blood vessel supplies the eye and orbit with important messengers and nutrients. The branches of the ophthalmic artery supply the retina, the lacrimal gland, the lens and also the ethmoid cells. The Vth cranial nerve, the mandibular nerve, also passes through the ala minor ossis sphenoidalis. The cranial nerve supplies wide regions of the face. Its branches supply, for example, the teeth, jaw, cheek, pinna, palate, or chin.
Diseases
Lesions of the skull bone are usually caused by severe impacts. This happens as a result of falls or accidents. The bone of the human skull is very stable and can usually withstand minor damage without further consequences. A lesion of the bone can cause a fracture or bruise. In the most common cases, the damage heals on its own after a few weeks. Bruises are considered unpleasant and cause headaches.The patient should take it easy and avoid physical exertion or pressure on the head during the healing process. The bones of the posterior orbit rarely suffer damage alone. Usually the adjacent regions are affected, so that the sphenoid wing can be attributed as a concomitant of another cause. If tissue swelling develops inside the skull, it may cause the openings of the ala minor ossis sphenoidalis to become obstructed. The nerve tracts and vessels can then no longer use them as places of passage. On the one hand, this means that congestion of the blood flow can occur. If they are not removed or if the blood cannot find another way, hemorrhages are the result. These can cause disturbances of consciousness, loss of consciousness or headaches. In addition, sensorimotor deficits usually occur. There is a risk of stroke. In addition, the nerve tracts can no longer adequately supply the organs. As soon as the openings of the ala minor ossis sphenoidalis are closed, the eye is no longer sufficiently innervated. This leads to visual deficits. Recorded information can no longer be transported to the visual cortex, and the functional activity of the rods and cones in the eye is impaired.
