Pterygopalatine ganglion and its artery supply

[Objective] To observe location,shape,size,branches and artery supply of pterygopalatine ganglion.[Methods] Formalin preserved pterygopalatine ganglion of fifty half-heads adult specimens after intravascular injection red coloring emulsion were studied by gross and microanatomy used 4 approaches,location,shape,size,branches and artery supply of pterygopalatine ganglion and surgery landmark were observed.[Results] Pterygopalatine ganglion located in the posteromedial part of pterygopalatine fossa,anterior to the pterygoid canal and posterior to the sphenopalatine artery.It had a triangular shape.The dimension of the ganglion was 4.12 mm×4.17 mm.It received the vidian nerve and connected with the maxillary nerve,and sent out palatine branches,nasal branches,pharyngeal branches and orbital branches.The ganglion was supplied by the vidian artery,foramen rotundum artery and sphenopalatine artery.It was an important anatomic landmark to look for the vidian nerve and maxillary nerve during surgery.[Conclusion] Pterygopalatine ganglion is an important nerve structure in pterygopalatine fossa.It is a valuable anatomic landmark to look for the vidian nerve and maxillary nerve during surgery.