[The clinic anatomy of operation on pterygopalatine fossa through nasal cavity under endoscope].
OBJECTIVE
To provide anatomic data of pterygopalatine fossa(PPF) for endoscopic PPF surgery.


METHODS
Fifteen wet adult skull specimen fixed in 10% formaldehyde were studies. From center the skulls were sawed, the middle and inferior turbinate were resected, the anterior and posterior ethmoid sinuses were resected. Then after punch out perpendicular part of palatine bone and posterior wall of maxillary,the pterygopalatine fossa were showed and some related measurements were made.


RESULTS
This pathway can lead to a good view of pterygopalatine fossa. The main soft structures in PPF were maxillary artery and nerve with their branches. The diameter of artery branches was smaller than 3 mm.


CONCLUSIONS
The endoscopic PPF surgery is safe and practical from the anatomic data.
Zhang
Qinxiu
Q
Department of Otolaryngology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Zou
Jian
J
Liu
Shixi
S
Qin
Gang
G
D000328:Adult; D004724:Endoscopy; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008438:Maxillary Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery*; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000601:surgery; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D056739:Pterygopalatine Fossa / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery*