{# Crawler directives — per-engine only. A bare `robots` meta is deliberately absent: pruning here is a Google indexation decision, never a crawl block, so AI crawlers keep the full surface. #}

pterygomaxillary fissure

The pterygomaxillary fissure is a fissure of the human skull. It is vertical, and descends at right angles from the medial end of the inferior orbital fissure; it is a triangular interval, formed by the divergence of the maxilla from the pterygoid process of the sphenoid. It connects the infratemporal with the pterygopalatine fossa, and transmits the terminal part of the maxillary artery. Alveolar branches of the maxillary nerve go from the pterygopalatine fossa to the infratemporal region via this fissure. In older texts, the pterygomaxillary fissure is sometimes called the pterygopalatine fissure.

On this page
Type Nerve
FMA ID 76627

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the pterygomaxillary fissure?

The pterygomaxillary fissure is a fissure of the human skull. It is vertical, and descends at right angles from the medial end of the inferior orbital fissure; it is a triangular interval, formed by the divergence of the maxilla from the pterygoid process of the sphenoid. It connects the infratempor

References

  1. Foundational Model of Anatomy — FMA:76627 Reference anatomy ontology (University of Washington)
  2. UBERON — UBERON:0013445 Cross-species anatomy ontology (EMBL-EBI Ontology Lookup Service)
  3. Wikipedia — pterygomaxillary fissure Encyclopedia article (verified cross-reference)

Medical Disclaimer

This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Educational Disclaimer

This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical decisions.

Data sources: Terminologia Anatomica, Foundational Model of Anatomy, Wikidata.