Corpus: Sphenopalatine foramen
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Synonym: Foramen pterygopalatinum
English:
Definition[Bearbeiten]
The sphenopalatine foramen is a bony opening in the skull that connects the nasal cavity with the pterygopalatine fossa.
Anatomy[Bearbeiten]
The sphenopalatine foramen is formed by 2 bones. The lower part of the foramen is formed ventrally by the processus orbitalis and dorsally by the processus sphenoidalis of the lamina perpendicularis of the os palatinum. The groove formed between these two processes (incisura sphenopalatina) is closed from above by the inferior surface of the sphenoid body, forming the sphenopalatine foramen.
Passing structures[Bearbeiten]
The following structures pass through the foramen into the upper nasal passage (superior meatus):
- Sphenopalatine artery
- Sphenopalatine vein
- Rami nasales posteriores superiores of the maxillary nerve
- Nasopalatine nerve