Pterygoid venous plexus
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.
View Daniel J Bell's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Leon Chau had no recorded disclosures.
View Leon Chau's current disclosures- Pterygoid plexuses
- Pterygoid venous plexuses
- Pterygoid plexus
The pterygoid venous plexus (plural: plexuses) is a small intercommunicating cluster of venules that is intimately related to the lateral pterygoid muscle, lying both intramuscularly and around the muscle.
The plexus is formed by very small veins that are the venous counterparts to the branches of the maxillary artery. However, most of the blood draining from the tissues supplied by this artery bypasses the plexus, instead passing back to the systemic circulation via the facial, pharyngeal, and diploic veins.
In addition, the inferior ophthalmic vein and deep facial vein also drain into the pterygoid plexus. The plexus itself drains via the maxillary vein before it forms the retromandibular vein.
Emissary veins also anastomose between the plexus and the cavernous sinus, via the foramina ovale and lacerum.
Function
The veins of the pterygoid plexus have valves, and the plexus acts as a small pump assisting the return of blood by the contractions of the lateral pterygoid muscle.
References
- 1. Chummy S. Sinnatamby. Last's Anatomy. (2018) ISBN: 9780702033940
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