44 



Spheno-maxillary Fossa. 



Fonts aeugt. 

 ^ esfternus 



tyloidt 



54. The Pterygo-palatine or Spheno-maxillary Fossa, 



Fossa pterygo-palatina s. spheno-maxillaris. 



The temporal fossa, Fossa temporal is, formed by the squamous 

 portion of the temporal bone, the temporal surface of the great wing of 

 the sphenoid, the zygomatic process of the frontal bone, and the frontal 

 process of the malar bone deepens inferiorly, internally and anteriorly, 

 between the superior maxilla, pterygoid process of the sphenoid and 

 palate bones forming the pterygo-palatine fossa. Usually only 

 the deepest part of the fossa, formed by the pterygoid process of the 

 sphenoid and palate bones is called pterygo-palatine fossa, while the 

 broader part lying between the superior maxillary and sphenoid bones 

 is called the s p h e n o - m a x i 1 1 a r y fossa. 



Foramina and canals of the pterygo-palatine fossa. To the 

 cranial cavity leads the Foramen rotundum; to the orbit the Fissura orbitalls 

 inferior ; to the nasal fossa the Foramen spJieiw-palatinum ; to the mouth the 

 Canalis palatlnus descendcns ; to the base of the cranium the Canalis Vidianus. 



