Corpus: Pterygoid venous plexus: Unterschied zwischen den Versionen

The pterygoid venous plexus is a network of veins located in the region of the infratemporal fossa.

Location

The pterygoid venous plexus is situated between the temporal muscle and the lateral pterygoid muscle, as well as between the lateral pterygoid muscle and the medial pterygoid muscle.

The pterygoid venous plexus receives blood from several vessels, including:

• Sphenopalatine vein
• Inferior ophthalmic vein
• Inferior alveolar vein
• Deep temporal veins (venae temporales profundae)
• Middle meningeal veins (venae meningeae mediae)

The pterygoid venous plexus drains blood directly or through a short connecting vessel, the maxillary vein, into the retromandibular vein and via the deep facial vein (profunda faciei) into the facial vein. There is also a connection to the cavernous sinus.

Due to its connection to the cavernous sinus, bacterial infections in the facial area can spread through the pterygoid venous plexus, potentially leading to cavernous sinus thrombosis.