Pterygoid plexus
| Pterygoid plexus | |
|---|---|
 Veins of the head and neck. | |
| Details | |
| Drains to | facial vein |
| Artery | maxillary artery |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | plexus pterygoideus |
| TA98 | A12.3.05.036 |
| TA2 | 4836 |
| FMA | 50944 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The pterygoid plexus is of considerable size, and is situated between the Temporalis and Pterygoideus externus, and partly between the two Pterygoidei.
Tributaries received
It receives tributaries corresponding with the branches of the maxillary artery.
Thus it receives the following veins:
- sphenopalatine
- middle meningeal[1]
- deep temporal
- pterygoid
- masseteric
- buccinator
- alveolar
- some palatine veins
- a branch which communicates with the ophthalmic vein through the inferior orbital fissure
- infraorbital vein
Relations
This plexus communicates freely with the anterior facial vein; it also communicates with the cavernous sinus, by branches through the foramen Vesalii, foramen ovale, and foramen lacerum.
References
External links
- Anatomy photo:27:13-0100 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Infratemporal Fossa: The Pterygoid Plexus of Veins"
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 645 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
 | This cardiovascular system article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |