The Morphology and Anatomical Location of the Sphenopalatine Foramen

Jeon, Yu Mi; Kim, Sang Bum; Jeong, Haw Hae; Seo, Youn Kyoung; Paik, Doo Jin

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the anatomical information of the sphenopalatine foramen with special reference to the bleeding control of the sphenopalatine artery and to the blockage of the pterygopalatine ganglion during functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Forty-three midsagittal sectioned Korean heads were used in the study. The mucosa on the lateral nasal wall was removed for showing the sphenopalatine foramen. The shapes of the sphenopalatine foramen were classified by 4 types. Angle from the akanthion and distances from akanthion, conchae, sphenoidal sinus and greater palatine foramen were measured. The sphenopalatine foramen was frequently found as oval shape and bilateral symmetry of 28.6%. The vertical length was 5.5 mm, the horizontal length was 5.3 mm. The most anterior point of the sphenopalatine foramen was located on 54.4 mm few and angles were between 15.9degrees and 22.1degrees from akanthion. The distances were 36.2 mm from anterior end of middle nasal concha, 6.2 mm from posterior end of middle nasal concha, 27.2 mm from greater palatine foramen. The uppermost point of the sphenopalatine foramen was located on 22.3 mm from the most superoanterior end of the sphenoidal sinus, 18.6 mm from the lowermost end of the sphenoidal sinus. This study could be useful to provide the confidence about the location of the sphenopalatine foramen during functional endoscopic sinus surgery.