Spheno-maxillary fossa

Spheno-maxillary fossa is a complex anatomical area located in the skull. It is also known as the pterygopalatine fossa and is a part of the human skull.

Etymology

The term "spheno-maxillary fossa" is derived from the Greek words "sphen" meaning wedge and "maxilla" meaning jawbone. The term "pterygopalatine" is derived from the Greek words "pteryx" meaning wing and "palate" meaning roof of the mouth.

Anatomy

The spheno-maxillary fossa is a small, pyramid-shaped space located between the sphenoid bone and the maxillary bone. It is bordered by the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone and the palatine bone. The fossa contains several important structures including the pterygopalatine ganglion, branches of the maxillary nerve, and the sphenopalatine artery.

Clinical Significance

Due to its location and the structures it contains, the spheno-maxillary fossa is clinically significant in several medical fields including neurosurgery, otolaryngology, and maxillofacial surgery. It is often involved in surgical procedures to treat conditions such as sinusitis, nasal polyps, and tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.

Related Terms

• Sphenoid bone
• Maxillary bone
• Pterygoid process
• Palatine bone
• Pterygopalatine ganglion
• Maxillary nerve
• Sphenopalatine artery

Spheno-maxillary fossa Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.

Translate to: East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski