| pterygoid fissure | The cleft between the medial and lateral laminae of the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone into which the pyramidal process of the palatine bone is fitted. Synonym: incisura pterygoidea, fissura pterygoidea, pterygoid notch. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| pterygoid fossa | The fossa formed by the divergence posteriorly of the plates of the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone; it lodges the origin of medial pterygoid and the tensor palati muscles. Synonym: fossa pterygoidea. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pterygoid fovea | A depression on the antero-medial side of the neck of the condylar process of the mandible, giving attachment to the lateral pterygoid muscle. Synonym: fovea pterygoidea, pterygoid depression, pterygoid pit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pterygoid hamulus | The inferior, hook-shaped extremity of the medial plate of the pterygoid process. Synonym: hamulus pterygoideus, hamular process of sphenoid bone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pterygoid laminae | See: lateral pterygoid plate, medial pterygoid plate. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pterygoid muscles | Two of the masticatory muscles: the internal, or medial, pterygoid muscle and external, or lateral, pterygoid muscle. Action of the former is closing the jaws and that of the latter is opening the jaws, protruding the mandible, and moving the mandible from side to side. (12 Dec 1998) |
| pterygoid nerve | <anatomy, nerve> One of two motor branches, lateral and medial, of the mandibular nerve, supplying the lateral and medial pterygoid muscles with fibres of the motor root of the trigeninal nerve. Synonym: nervus pterygoideus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pterygoid notch | The cleft between the medial and lateral laminae of the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone into which the pyramidal process of the palatine bone is fitted. Synonym: incisura pterygoidea, fissura pterygoidea, pterygoid notch. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pterygoid pit | A depression on the antero-medial side of the neck of the condylar process of the mandible, giving attachment to the lateral pterygoid muscle. Synonym: fovea pterygoidea, pterygoid depression, pterygoid pit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pterygoid plates | See: lateral pterygoid plate, medial pterygoid plate. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pterygoid plexus | A venous plexus occupying the infratemporal fossa receiving veins accompanying the branches of the maxillary artery, and terminating posteriorly in the maxillary vein; anteriorly the pterygoid plexus drains via the deep facial vein into the facial vein. Synonym: plexus pterygoideus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pterygoid process | A long process extending downward from the junction of the body and great wing of the sphenoid bone on either side; it is formed of two plates (lateral and medial), united anteriorly but separated below to form the pterygoid notch; the pterygoid fossa is formed by the divergence of these two plates posteriorly. Synonym: processus pterygoideus, os pterygoideum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pterygoid ridge of sphenoid bone | A rough ridge marking the angle of union of the temporal and infratemporal surfaces of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone. Synonym: crista infratemporalis, pterygoid ridge of sphenoid bone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pterygoid tubercle | A slight prominence on the posterior surface of the medial pterygoid plate, inferior and to the medial side of the pterygoid canal. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pterygoid tuberosity | A roughened area on the internal aspect of the mandible, giving attachment to fibres of the medial pterygoid muscle. Synonym: tuberositas pterygoidea. (05 Mar 2000) |