Arteries of pterygopalatine fossa (English)

The main artery to be found in the pterygopalatine fossa is the third (pterygopalatine) part of the maxillary artery. There is a lot of anatomical variation concerning the branches of this part of the maxillary artery. Usually it gives off the greater palatine and posterior superior alveolar arteries inside the pterygopalatine fossa, before it bifurcates in the infraorbital and sphenopalatine arteries. The infraorbital artery enters the inferior orbital fissure anteriorly, while the sphenopalatine artery courses medially to enter the sphenopalatine foramen. Two other arteries are worth mentioning here: the pharyngeal artery and the artery of pterygoid canal, both of which course posteriorly to enter respectively the palatovaginal canal and the pterygoid canal.