Pterygoid plexus
| Pterygoid plexus | |
|---|---|
 Veins of the head and neck. | |
| Details | |
| 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.
It receives tributaries corresponding with the branches of the internal maxillary artery.
Thus it receives the sphenopalatine, the middle meningeal, the deep temporal, the pterygoid, masseteric, buccinator, alveolar, and some palatine veins, and a branch which communicates with the ophthalmic vein through the inferior orbital fissure.
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.
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 645 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
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