Radiology of the pterygoid plates and pterygopalatine fossa

The pterygopalatine fossa is a major distribution center for the parasympathetic innervation and vascular supply of deep facial structures. Through eight bony canals or foramina, this fossa communicates with the nasal and oral cavities, infra-temporal fossa, orbit, pharynx, and middle cranial fossa. Therefore this important structure provides a natural pathway for dissemination or spread of disease processes to contiguous structures. The normal gross and radiographic anatomy of the pterygopalatine fossa and the adjacent pterygoid plates are considered in detail. Variation in these structures as well as their alterations in a variety of pathologic entities are described.