Pterygomaxillary fissure
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Mudgal P, Hacking C, Whitehead H, et al. Pterygomaxillary fissure. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 21 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-28261
rID:
28261
Article created:
17 Mar 2014,
Prashant Mudgal
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Prashant Mudgal had no recorded disclosures.
View Prashant Mudgal's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Craig Hacking had the following disclosures:
- Philips Australia, Paid speaker at Philips Spectral CT events (ongoing)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosures
Revisions:
13 times, by
9 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
The pterygomaxillary fissure is a triangular shaped lateral opening of pterygopalatine fossa.
Gross anatomy
It is located between the infratemporal fossa, laterally, and the pterygopalatine fossa, medially, and it is formed by the AP divergence of the maxilla from the lateral pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone 3.
Borders
anterior: posteromedial wall of the maxilla
posterior: lateral pterygoid plate
inferior: junction of the posteromedial wall of the maxilla and lateral pterygoid plate
medial: pterygopalatine fossa
lateral: infratemporal fossa 3
Contents
The pterygomaxillary fissure transmits the posterior superior alveolar nerve, a branch of maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve, coursing from the pterygopalatine fossa to the infratemporal fossa. Terminal branches of the maxillary artery also enter the fissure.
References
- 1. Imaging of the Head and Neck. Thieme. (2012) ISBN:3131505311. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Robert H. Whitaker, Neil R. Borley. Instant Anatomy. ISBN: 9780632054039
- 3. Stephanie Ryan, Michelle McNicholas, Stephen J. Eustace. Anatomy for Diagnostic Imaging. (2011) Page 35. ISBN: 9780702029714 - Google Books
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