What is pterygoid plexus?
The pterygoid plexus (/ˈtɛrɪɡɔɪd/; from Greek pteryx, “wing” and eidos, “shape”) is a venous plexus of considerable size, and is situated between the temporalis muscle and lateral pterygoid muscle, and partly between the two pterygoid muscles.
What is the pterygoid plexus and where is it located?
The pterygoid venous plexus is an extensive valveless plexus of veins that parallels the medial two thirds of the maxillary artery on the lateral aspect of the medial pterygoid muscle, within the infratemporal fossa.
What is the function of the pterygoid plexus of veins?
Function. The veins of the pterygoid plexus have valves, and the plexus acts as a small pump assisting the return of blood by the contractions of the lateral pterygoid muscle.
What is the clinical significance of the pterygoid plexus?
The function of the pterygoid venous plexus is to collect the blood from the palate, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, and auditory tube. The veins of pterygoid plexus converge on its anterior end to form the maxillary vein, which conveys the blood from the plexus into the retromandibular vein.
What does the deep facial vein drain?
It receives blood from the external palatine vein before it either joins the anterior branch of the retromandibular vein to form the common facial vein, or drains directly into the internal jugular vein….
| Facial vein | |
|---|---|
| Drains from | Angular vein |
| Drains to | Internal jugular vein |
| Artery | Facial artery |
| Identifiers |
Does the pterygoid plexus drain into the cavernous sinus?
The inferior ophthalmic vein may drain posteriorly directly into the cavernous sinus or to the pterygoid plexus. The pterygoid plexus communicates with the cavernous sinus through the foramina ovale, spinosum, and rotundum.
What is a venous plexus?
The vertebral venous plexus is a highly anastomotic network of valveless veins running along the entire length of the vertebral column from the foramen magnum to the sacral hiatus.
Where does cavernous sinus drain?
Cavernous sinuses drain the blood from the orbits through the ophthalmic veins and from the anterior part of the base of the brain by the sphenoparietal sinus and the middle cerebral veins. They empty into both the superior and inferior petrosal sinuses and ultimately into the internal jugular veins.
What is the purpose of the Pterygoideus Medialis?
Function. The medial pterygoid muscle has functions including elevating the mandible (closing the mouth), protruding the mandible, mastication (especially for when the maxillary teeth and the mandibular teeth are close together), and excursing the mandible (contralateral excursion occurs with unilateral contraction).
Are facial vein valveless?
Background: The ophthalmic and facial veins are frequently stated to be devoid of valves, facilitating the spread of infection from the mid-face to the cavernous sinus. Four of seven facial vein segments extending to the lower border of the mandible had valves.