Autopsy study for maxillary nerve and its artery supply / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the travel, divisions, and the lengths, diameters, branches, artery supplies of the main segments of maxillary nerve.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty formalin-preserved adult half-head specimens with intravascular injection of red color emulsion were used for the gross and microanatomical studies of maxillary nerve. The lengths, diameters, branches and artery supplies of four main segments of maxillary nerve were observed. SPSS 11.5 software was used to analyze the data.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The length and diameter of cranial middle fossa segment of maxillary nerve were (10.70 ± 1.31) mm and (4.01 ± 0.52) mm respectively, which was supplied by inferior-lateral cavernous sinus artery. The length and diameter of pterygopalatine fossa segment were (16.21 ± 1.80) mm and (3.27 ± 0.62) mm respectively, in which one zygomatic branch, one to three posterior superior alveolar nerves, two ganglion branches and tuberal descending branches; were given off, and the segment was supplied by foramen rotundum artery. The length and diameter of infraorbital segment were (25.73 ± 2.03) mm and (3.30 ± 0.52) mm and it gave off middle superior alveolar nerve (64%) and anterior superior alveolar nerve and was supplied by infraorbital artery. Facial segment gave off superior labial branches, internal and external nasal branches, inferior palpebral branches, buccal branch and zygomatic branch and these branches were supplied by infraorbital artery and superior labial and angular artery originating from facial artery.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Understanding of travel and artery supply of maxillary nerve is helpful to regional anaesthesia and surgery for maxillary nerve. Foramen rotundum, sphenopalatine foramen and infraorbital nerve are important marks for endoscopic surgery in pterygopalatine fossa.</p>

The applied anatomic study of palatopharyngeus muscle / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The aim of this investigation was to examine the anatomic basis of palatopharyngeus and clinical implications for sphincter pharyngoplasty.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Detailed dissections were performed on 17 sides of adult human head and neck specimens. The eight sides newborns' head and neck cadavers were also used in the study (4 normal and 4 cleft lip and palate). The observations of histologic serial sections were undertaken in six fetus head and neck specimens on coronal, transverse and sagittal direction.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The palatopharyngeus with three components of pharyngeal origins and two heads of velar insertions contributes the continuity between the velum and lateral pharyngeal wall and the bulk of muscle fibers were extended to the posterior tonsilar pillars with (27.58 +/- 6.73) mm length and (34.1 +/- 10.50) mm2 section area. The muscles were supplied dominantly from the branches of ascending pharyngeal artery and tonsilar artery and partly from the branches of ascending palatine artery and dorsal lingual artery. The muscles were innervated by the branches of pharyngeal plexus which focus on the level 10 mm to 25 mm below the hard palate and at the level of 15 mm below the hard palate there was at least one of the nerve branch entered the muscle.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The palatopharyngeus muscle is not only a major musculature of lateral pharyngeal wall but also an important portion of the soft palate, participating the middle and posterior velum, which means that the muscle may play a significant effect in the velar function and pharyngeal wall movements. It is also a good donor site for palatopharyngeus flap. The sphincter pharyngoplasty has some influence to the blood supply and innervation of the muscles, which may result to blood reversion and denervation for the distal component of palatopharyngeal flap.</p>