An anatomical study of the pterygoalar bar and the pterygoalar foramen

Abstract

The paper presents anatomical considerations on the pterygoalar bar and the pterygoalar foramen of the human skull. The pterygoalar bar is a bony bridge that stretches between the lateral pterygoid lamina and the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, while the space under this bar is termed the pterygoalar foramen. These structures were noted in 5 out of 70 investigated skulls. The length of the pterygoalar bar ranged from 4 to 8 mm, while the diameter of the pterygoalar foramen ranged from 7 to 11 mm. The presence of the pterygoalar bar is clinically important because it may disturb access to the foramen ovale during anaesthesia of the trigeminal nerve.