Anatomy and application of pterygopalatine fossa

Objective To study the anatomical character of pterygopalatine fossa.Methods 10 cadaveric adult heads were resected in midline.The anerior and posteruir walls of the maxillrary sinuswere removed,the pterygopalatine segment of maxillary arter and nerve with their branches were dissected.After the zgmoatic arch latterly were removed,infratemporal foss were dissected.Maxillrary artery and it′s branches were exposured.Maxillary nerve with it′s branches on the posterior-upperior-medial portion of pterygopalatine fossa were located.The longths and diameters of maxillrary artery and it′s branches were measured,and the anatomiacal relationship of maxillrary artery and descending palatine artery were observed.Results Pterygopalatine fossa was narrow and small.There were maxillary artery and nerve,sphenopalatine ganglion and pterygoid canal never in pterygopalatine fossa.Conclusions Pterygopalaione fossa is a narrow rift.There are never layer and vessel layer of tissue in the pterygopalaione fossa.