Sphenopalatine Foramen
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The sphenopalatine foramen is a
foramen In anatomy and osteology, a foramen (; : foramina, or foramens ; ) is an opening or enclosed gap within the dense connective tissue (bones and deep fasciae) of extant and extinct amniote animals, typically to allow passage of nerves, artery, ...
of the skull that connects the
nasal cavity The nasal cavity is a large, air-filled space above and behind the nose in the middle of the face. The nasal septum divides the cavity into two cavities, also known as fossae. Each cavity is the continuation of one of the two nostrils. The nas ...
and the pterygopalatine fossa. It gives passage to the sphenopalatine artery, nasopalatine nerve, and the superior nasal nerve (all passing from the pterygopalatine fossa into the nasal cavity).


Structure

The processes of the superior border of the
palatine bone In anatomy, the palatine bones (; derived from the Latin ''palatum'') are two irregular bones of the facial skeleton in many animal species, located above the uvula in the throat. Together with the maxilla, they comprise the hard palate. Stru ...
are separated by the ''sphenopalatine notch'', which is converted into the sphenopalatine foramen by the under surface of the body of the sphenoid. The sphenopalatine foramen is situated posterior to the middle nasal meatus orbital process of palatine bone, anterior to the sphenoidal process of palatine bone, inferior to the body and of the
sphenoid bone The sphenoid bone is an unpaired bone of the neurocranium. It is situated in the middle of the skull towards the front, in front of the basilar part of occipital bone, basilar part of the occipital bone. The sphenoid bone is one of the seven bon ...
, and superior to the superior margin of the perpendicular plate of palatine bone.


Relations

The ethmoid crest (a reliable surgical
landmark A landmark is a recognizable natural or artificial feature used for navigation, a feature that stands out from its near environment and is often visible from long distances. In modern-day use, the term can also be applied to smaller structures ...
) is situated anterior to the sphenopalatine foramen.


Additional images

File:Gray167.png, Articulation of left palatine bone with maxilla. File:Gray168.png, Left palatine bone. Nasal aspect. Enlarged.


References


Sources


External links

* () (#10) * Foramina of the skull {{musculoskeletal-stub