Pterygoid canal
Passage in the human skull
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The pterygoid canal (also vidian canal) is a passage in the sphenoid bone of the skull leading from just anterior to the foramen lacerum in the middle cranial fossa to the pterygopalatine fossa.[1]
Latincanalis pterygoideus
| 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 |
| TA98 | A02.1.05.053 |
| TA2 | 639 |
| FMA | 54756 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
It transmits the nerve of pterygoid canal (Vidian nerve), the artery of the pterygoid canal (Vidian artery), and the vein of the pterygoid canal (Vidian vein).
Structure
The pterygoid canal runs through the medial pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone to the back wall of the pterygopalatine fossa.
Additional images
Medial wall of left orbit.
External links
- Anatomy figure: 22:4b-08 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- cranialnerves at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (VII)
