[Anatomic study of pterygopalatine fossa under endoscope].

Objective: To provide endoscopic anatomic bony structures of pterygopalatine fossa for skull base surgery.

Methods: The bony structures of the pterygopalatine fossa were observed in ten dry skulls under endoscope.

Results: The pterygopalatine fossa showed a long and narrow cleft composed of the body and pterygoid process of sphenoid bone, the lamina perpendicular of palatine bone, and the posterior wall of maxillary sinus. The pterygopalatine fossa is (21.4 +/- 0.8) mm x (5.2 +/- 0.3) mm x (3.2 +/- 0.3) mm, with seven paths communicating with nasal cavity, mouth cavity, pharynx, orbit, infratemporal fossa and middle cranial fossa. Under endoscope,the whole pterygopalatine fossa could be observed.

Conclusions: Endoscopic anatomic study of the pterygopalatine fossa is important to endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery. Under endoscope,the whole pterygopalatine fossa can be observed.