Why is the fossa important?
As a carnivore, the fossa is an excellent hunter. It preys on small- to medium-sized animals from fish to birds, mice, and wild pigs. But lemurs are its main food source, and the fossa is Madagascar’s only predator able to kill the largest lemur species.
What runs in Pterygopalatine fossa?
The inferior orbital fissure forms the superior boundary of the pterygopalatine fossa and communicates with the orbit. It is a space between the sphenoid and maxilla bones. The zygomatic branch of the maxillary nerve and the infraorbital artery and vein pass through the inferior orbital fissure.
Where is the Infratemporal fossa?
The infratemporal fossa is a complex space of the face that lies posterolateral to the maxillary sinus and many important nerves and vessels traverse it. It lies below the skull base, between the pharyngeal sidewall and ramus of the mandible.
How big is the Pterygopalatine fossa?
The pterygopalatine fossa can be assimilated to an inverted square-based pyramid. Its size varies depending on the development of the maxillary and sphenoid sinuses and is approximately 2 cm in height and 1 cm at the base.
What is Pterygopalatine?
The pterygopalatine (sphenopalatine) ganglion is one of four small parasympathetic ganglia found in the head. Although it is described as being a parasympathetic ganglion, it also carries sympathetic and sensory fibers to the nasal, oral and pharyngeal regions of the head.
What goes through Pterygoid Canal?
It transmits the Vidian artery and Vidian nerve from the middle cranial fossa to the pterygopalatine fossa.
What is Vidian nerve?
Vidian nerve, also known as the nerve of the pterygoid canal or nerve of the Vidian canal, is so named because of the canal in which it travels: the Vidian canal. greater superfical petrosal nerve (from the geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve) carrying parasympathetic fibers from the superior salivary nucleus.
How is Vidian nerve formed?
The vidian nerve is formed by the confluence of the greater superficial petrosal and deep petrosal nerves and travels in the pterygoid canal carrying the parasympathetic fibers, which synapse in the pterygopalatine ganglion, and the postganglionic fibers are distributed with the branches of the maxillary nerve.
Where does Vidian nerve come from?
The nerve of the pterygoid canal (Vidian nerve) is formed by the junction of the greater petrosal nerve and deep petrosal nerve, which passes from the foramen lacerum to the pterygopalatine fossa through the pterygoid canal.