Pterygoid canal

Dr Grace Carpenter ◉ and Dr Henry Knipe ◉ ◈ et al.

The pterygoid canal, also known as the Vidian canal, is a foramen in the base of skull, located in the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone, superior to the pterygoid plates, and inferomedial to the foramen rotundum. It transmits the Vidian artery and Vidian nerve from the middle cranial fossa to the pterygopalatine fossa.

History and etymology

The Vidian canal is named after the Italian surgeon and anatomist, Guido Guidi (Latin: Vidus Vidius) (1509-1569).

Clinical importance

The pterygoid canal is a reliable landmark for identifying the position of the anterior genu and lacerum segment of the ICA as it emerges from the petrous bone ².

It is an important structure as the involvement of the canal in inflammatory or neoplastic disease can result in pain referred deep to the nasal cavity. Pathological appearances of the pterygoid canal have been described to include effacement, atrophy, and enlargement. It can be difficult to distinguish possible pathological changes from normal anatomical variation.

Quiz questions

References

Anatomy: Head and neck

Anatomy: Head and neck

skeleton of the head and neck
muscles of the head and neck
- muscles of the tongue (mnemonic)
  - extrinsic muscles of the tongue
  - intrinsic muscles of the tongue
- muscles of mastication
- muscles of facial expression
  - occipitalis muscle
  - circumorbital and palpebral muscles
  - nasal muscles
  - buccolabial muscles
    - elevators, retractors and evertors of the upper lip
      - levator labii superioris alaeque nasalis muscle
      - levator labii superioris muscle
      - zygomaticus major muscle
      - zygomaticus minor muscle
      - malaris muscle
      - levator anguli oris muscle
      - risorius muscle
    - depressors, retractors and evertors of the lower lip
      - depressor labii inferioris muscle
      - depressor anguli oris muscle
      - mentalis muscle
    - compound sphincter
      - orbicularis oris muscle
      - incisivus superior muscle
      - incisivus inferior muscle
    - muscle of mastication:
      - buccinator muscle
- muscles of the middle ear
  - stapedius muscle
  - tensor tympani muscle
- orbital muscles
  - extraocular muscles
  - levator palpebrae superioris muscle
    - superior tarsal muscle
- muscles of the soft palate
- pharyngeal muscles
- suprahyoid muscles
- infrahyoid muscles
- intrinsic muscles of the larynx
- muscles of the neck
- accessory muscles of the neck
  - levator glandulae thyroideae muscle
deep cervical fascia
deep spaces of the neck
surgical triangles of the neck
- anterior triangle
- posterior triangle
  - occipital triangle
    - suboccipital triangle
  - supraclavicular triangle
orbit
ear
paranasal sinuses
nose
oral cavity
pharynx
larynx
viscera of the neck
blood supply of the head and neck
- arterial supply
  - common carotid artery
- venous drainage
innervation of the head and neck
- cranial nerves
  - olfactory nerve (CN I)
  - optic nerve (CN II)
  - oculomotor nerve (CN III)
  - trochlear nerve (CN IV)
  - trigeminal nerve (CN V) (mnemonic)
    - trigeminal ganglion
    - ophthalmic division
      - tentorial nerve
      - frontal nerve
        
        supra-orbital nerve
        
        supratrochlear nerve
      - lacrimal nerve
      - nasociliary nerve
        
        small communicating branch to the ciliary ganglion
        
        short ciliary nerves
        
        long ciliary nerves
        
        infratrochlear nerve
        
        posterior ethmoidal nerve
        
        anterior ethmoidal nerve
    - maxillary division
    - mandibular division
  - abducens nerve (CN VI)
  - facial nerve (CN VII)
    - chorda tympani
    - nerve to stapedius
  - vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
    - vestibular ganglion (Scarpa's ganglion)
  - glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
    - Jacobson nerve
  - vagus nerve (CN X)
    - superior laryngeal nerve
      - external laryngeal nerve
      - internal laryngeal nerve
    - recurrent laryngeal nerve (inferior laryngeal nerve)
  - (spinal) accessory nerve (CN XI)
  - hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
- parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck
- greater occipital nerve
- third occipital nerve
- cervical plexus
  - muscular branches
    - longus capitis
    - longus colli
    - scalenes
    - geniohyoid
    - thyrohyoid
    - ansa cervicalis
      - omohyoid (superior and inferior bellies separately)
      - sternothyroid
      - sternohyoid
    - phrenic nerve
      - accessory phrenic nerve
    - contribution to the accessory nerve (CN XI)
  - cutaneous branches
- brachial plexus
- pharyngeal plexus
lymphatic drainage of the head and neck
embryological development of the head and neck
- branchial apparatus

Article information

rID: 23752

System: Head & Neck

Section: Anatomy

Tag: cases, refs, refs, cases, base of skull, cases, refs

Synonyms or Alternate Spellings:

Vidian's canal
Vidian canal

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Cases and figures

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