Anterior Nasopharynx and Infratemporal Fossa
5573
Surgical Correlation
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Anterior frontal view through the central part of the head with exposure of the nasopharynx and part of the infratemporal fossa. The pharyngotympanic tube and its opening, the torus tubarius, project into the lateral wall of the nasopharynx. The maxillary nerve and nerve of the pterygoid canal can be seen within their respective bony canals enroute to the pterygopalatine fossa. The mandibular nerve is shown emerging from the foramen ovale in the roof of the infratemporal fossa. The pterygoid process of the sphenoid with its medial and lateral pterygoid plates can be seen on the left side of this specimen. (Image courtesy of AL Rhoton, Jr.)