The pterygopalatine fossa is an indentation in the human skull. It is located between the sphenoid bone and the maxilla. Alternatively, it is called the wing palatal fossa.
What is the pterygopalatine fossa?
The pterygopalatine fossa is a part of the human skull. It is a bulge or depression in the bone of the skull. It is easily palpable with the fingers on the human face. It is located on the outside of the face slightly below the eye. There, between the sphenoid bone and the upper jaw, the pit can be felt. The pterygopalatine fossa is also called the wing palate fossa because of its position and appearance. Various vessels, nerve tracts and fibers pass through it. The human skull bone is very stable and impermeable to vessels and nerve tracts. In order to nevertheless be able to transport absorbed stimuli from the sensory organs to the brain regions, there are bulges or grooves between various tissue structures of the brain. They are used to avoid being squeezed or displaced. The bulges are used to form ganglia, for example, or to allow exchange between different neural pathways. The pterygopalatine fossa is responsible for nerve tracts that can travel to the orbit, the human eye socket. There they subsequently supply the eye. In addition, it is of great importance for the supply of the upper jaw.
Anatomy and structure
The pterygopalatine fossa is formed all around by various bones. Toward the top, theirs include the os sphenoidale, a skull bone shaped like a butterfly. Towards the bottom is the processus pyramidalis of the os palatinum. This is the palatine bone. Anteriorly, it is formed by the facies infratemporalis of the maxilla. The pterygoid process delimits the pterygopalatine fossa posteriorly. Towards the middle of the face is the lamina perpendicularis of the os palatinum. To the outside, the bulge is open and therefore easily palpable. Various nerves, arteries and veins pass through the pterygopalatine fossa. They include the pterygopalatine ganglion. This is connected to the maxillary nerve. Also, the maxillary artery, which is also called the pars pterygopalatina, and the zygomatic nerve. This is a terminal branch of the maxillary nerve. This in turn is a branch of the V. Cranial nerve, the trigeminal nerve. The petrosal major nerve and the petrosal profundal nerve are also located in the pterygopalatine fossa. Both are also referred to as the canal pterygoid nerve.
Function and tasks
Various stimuli such as temperature, light or touch are received in the respective sensory organs and then transported to the brain via various pathways. There they are evaluated and interpreted accordingly. At the same time, the various organs and brain structures are supplied via the pathways used. This takes place in blood pathways with oxygen, cells or blood plasma. Electrical signals are transported in the nerve fibers. Accordingly, a two-way exchange of information as well as supply takes place on the various communication paths. To make this possible, the nerve fibers and blood vessels need certain paths that they can use across the human head. Since the skull is impermeable, there are various passageways that are used. The pterygopalatine fossa is one of the available protrusions. In the recess or along other anatomical spaces, the vessels and fibers can follow their paths undisturbed. They are neither displaced nor squeezed by other organs or tissues within the skull. The bulges are cavities in which there is no other cortical tissue. Therefore, they are used, for example, to accommodate fibers from other nerve tracts or to guarantee forwarding of existing tracts. For example, the zygomatic nerve takes up efferent nerve fibers from the ganglion there in the pterygopalatine fossa and then continues to the orbit. The orbit receives its nerves from the pterygopalatine fossa. Also, nerve tracts of the greater petrosal nerve pass through the pterygopalatine fossa. Its nerve fibers travel along the pterygoid canal. This ends in the pterygopalatine fossa. Subsequently, the nerve fibers pick up more in the pterygoid ganglion and travel to the lacrimal gland to innervate it.
Diseases
Damage to the bones of the skull around the face can result in damage to nerve fibers or vessels. If the bones around the pterygopalatine fossa are damaged, the result may be that the bulge can no longer be used as a passageway. This means that there is no longer sufficient supply to the orbit and thus to the eyes, lacrimal gland or upper palate. This can lead to numbness of the facial skin or palate. The lacrimal gland can no longer produce sufficient tear fluid. Thus, the eye is insufficiently supplied. Tear fluid has an important social function, regulating internal emotional states and protecting the eye. Impurities in the eye are regulated by the tear fluid. Dehydration of the eye is associated with pain in visual perception. Since the bone of the skull is made of a very hard material, damage usually occurs as a result of falls, accidents, or as a result of surgical procedures on the face. The bone damages are often bruises or fractures that take several weeks to regenerate. Hypersensitivity of the nerves due to inflammation can be the result. Similarly, headaches or migraines are frequent accompanying symptoms. Once the bulge is closed, congestion of the blood vessels there occurs. This can lead to the formation of blood clots. This increases the risk of stroke.
