Abstract:

Objective　To provide the anatomic basis the surgery of for maxillary nerve in the pterygopalatine fossa.　Methods     The distances from foramen rotundum to the lateral wall of the nasal cavity and the median sagittal plane were measured in 15 adult skull specimens. The relative position between the maxillary artery and nerve was also observed.　Results　The distances from the foramen rotundum to the lateral wall of the nasal cavity and the median sagittal plane were （13.78±2.18）mm and （17.89±2.67）mm,  respectively. In 9 cases, the maxillary artery were located inferolateral to the maxillary nerve, accounting for 63.3%; in the remaining 4 cases, the maxillary nerve was located inferior to the maxillary nerve.　Conclusion　 Our study can provide the important anatomical parameters for surgery of the maxillary nerve.

Key words: Maxillary nerve, Pterygopalatine fossa, Maxillary artery, Trigeminal neuralgia