Dissection 11 - Pterygopalatine Fossa and Oral Cavity

Anterior and posterior nasal aperture (choanae)

Bony openings that mark the anterior and posterior boundaries of the nasal cavity

Descending palatine a.

Branch of maxillary a. that passes in the palatine canal deep to the greater and lesser palatine n.

Foramen cecum

What part of the tongue is left blank?

Greater and lesser palatine n.

Descends through the palatine canal and are branches of CN V2

Infraorbital n.

Branch of CN V2 that runs along the roof of the maxillary sinus; Gives off superior alveolar n. within the maxillary sinus

Levator veli palatini

Soft palate m. located just inferior to the opening of the auditory tube in nasopharynx; Innervated by CN X

Maxillary sinus

Opens into the middle meatus via the osteum of the maxillary sinus

Medial pterygoid plate

Part of sphenoid bone with a pterygoid hamulus at the inferior aspect

Median lingual sulcus

What does 5 point to?

Nasal septum

Bone + cartilage + mucous membrane that divides the L and R nasal cavity

Nasolacrimal duct

Opens into the inferior meatus

N. of the pterygoid canal

Runs posterior from the pterygopalatine ganglion; Made from the greater and deep petrosal n.

Osteum of maxillary sinus

Inferior opening of the semilunar hiatus that opens into the maxillary sinus

Palatine canal

Vertically running canal that terminates at the base of the hard palate; Contains the descending palatine a. + greater/lesser palatine n.

Palatine tonsil

Tonsils located between palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal folds

Palatoglossal fold

Mucous membrane that covers the palatoglossus m. (black arrow)

Palatoglossus m.

M. deep to palatoglossal fold

Palatopharyngeal fold

Mucous membrane that covers the palatopharyngeus m. (green arrow)

Pharyngeal tonsils

Tonsils located at the roof of the nasopharynx (blue box)

Pterygoid hamulus

Inferior portion of medial pterygoid plate; Where tensor veli palatini hooks around

Pterygopalatine ganglion

Located at the junction between the greater/lesser palatine n. and n. of the pterygoid canal; Where parasymp for nasal/oral mucosa and lacrimal gland synapse

Salpingopalatine fold

Anterior fold of torus tubarius

Salpingopalatine m.

M. deep to salpingopalatine fold

Sapingopharyngeal fold

Posterior border of torus tubariusS

Salpingopharyngeal m.

M. deep to salpingopharyngeal fold; Innervated by CN X

Semilunar hiatus

Located within the middle meatus (anterior portion); Has 2 openings (frontal and maxillary sinus)

Sphenoethmoidal recess

Located superior to superior turbinate/concha; Opening into sphenoid sinus

Sphenopalatine a.

Branch of maxillary a. that provides vasculature to the nasal cavity

Sulcus terminalis

Marks the posterior 1/3 of tongue (8 in image)

Superior alveolar n.

Branch of CN V2; SS to maxillary dentition

Superior, middle, and inferior meatus

Space located just inferior to corresponding turbinateS

Superior, middle, and inferior turbinates

Curved bony structures that project from the lateral wall of the nasal cavity

Tensor veli palatini

Located just deep to the medial pterygoid plate; Has a tendon that hooks around the pterygoid hamulus; Innervated by CN V3

Tous tubarius

What is the highlighted structure?