Pterygoid canal

Pterygoid canal

Base of skull. Inferior surface. (Sphenoid is yellow.)

Sphenoid bone. Anterior and inferior surfaces. (Pterygoid c. labeled at center left.)
Details
Artery artery of the pterygoid canal
Nerve nerve of pterygoid canal
Identifiers
Latin Canalis pterygoideus
TA A02.1.05.053
FMA 54756

Anatomical terminology

The pterygoid canal (also vidian canal) is a passage in the skull leading from just anterior to the foramen lacerum in the middle cranial fossa to the pterygopalatine fossa.

Structure

The pterygoid canal runs through the medial pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone to the back wall of the pterygopalatine fossa.

Contents

It transmits the nerve of pterygoid canal, artery of the pterygoid canal and vein of the pterygoid canal.

These three are also known as the Vidian Nerve, Vidian Artery and Vidian Vein.

Additional images


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