Pterygoid venous plexus
Updates to Article Attributes
The pterygoid venous plexus is a small intercommunicating cluster of venules that is intimately related to the lateral pterygoid muscle, lying both intramuscularly and around the muscle.
The plexus is formed by very small veins that are the venous counterparts to the branches of the maxillary artery. However most of the blood draining from the tissues supplied by this artery, bypasses the plexus, instead passing back to the systemic circulation via the facial, pharyngeal and diploic veins.
In addition the inferior ophthalmic vein and deep facial vein also drain into the pterygoid plexus. The plexus itself drains via the short maxillary vein before it forms the retromandibular vein.
Emissary veins also anastomose between the plexus and the cavernous sinus, via the foramina ovale and lacerum.
Function
The veins of the pterygoid plexus have valves, and the plexus acts as a small pump assisting the return of blood by the contractions of the lateral pterygoid muscle.
-<p>The <strong>pterygoid venous plexus</strong> is a small intercommunicating cluster of venules that is intimately related to the <a href="/articles/lateral-pterygoid-muscle">lateral pterygoid muscle</a>, lying both intramuscularly and around the muscle.</p><p>The plexus is formed by very small veins that are the venous counterparts to the branches of the <a href="/articles/maxillary-artery">maxillary artery</a>. However most of the blood draining from the tissues supplied by this artery, bypasses the plexus, instead passing back to the systemic circulation via the <a href="/articles/facial-vein">facial</a>, <a href="/articles/pharyngeal-vein">pharyngeal</a> and <a href="/articles/diploic-vein">diploic</a> veins.</p><p>In addition the <a href="/articles/inferior-ophthalmic-vein">inferior ophthalmic vein</a> and <a href="/articles/deep-facial-vein">deep facial vein</a> also drain into the pterygoid plexus. The plexus itself drains via the short maxillary vein before it forms the <a href="/articles/retromandibular-vein">retromandibular vein</a>.</p><p><a href="/articles/emissary-veins">Emissary veins</a> also anastomose between the plexus and the <a href="/articles/cavernous-sinus">cavernous sinus</a>, via the foramina ovale and <a href="/articles/foramen-lacerum">lacerum</a>.</p><h4>Function</h4><p>The veins of the pterygoid plexus have valves, and the plexus acts as a small pump assisting the return of blood by the contractions of the lateral pterygoid muscle.</p>- +<p>The <strong>pterygoid venous plexus</strong> is a small intercommunicating cluster of venules that is intimately related to the <a href="/articles/lateral-pterygoid-muscle">lateral pterygoid muscle</a>, lying both intramuscularly and around the muscle.</p><p>The plexus is formed by very small veins that are the venous counterparts to the branches of the <a href="/articles/maxillary-artery">maxillary artery</a>. However most of the blood draining from the tissues supplied by this artery, bypasses the plexus, instead passing back to the systemic circulation via the <a href="/articles/facial-vein">facial</a>, <a href="/articles/pharyngeal-vein">pharyngeal</a> and <a href="/articles/diploic-vein">diploic</a> veins.</p><p>In addition the <a href="/articles/inferior-ophthalmic-vein">inferior ophthalmic vein</a> and <a href="/articles/deep-facial-vein">deep facial vein</a> also drain into the pterygoid plexus. The plexus itself drains via the short maxillary vein before it forms the <a href="/articles/retromandibular-vein">retromandibular vein</a>.</p><p><a href="/articles/emissary-veins">Emissary veins</a> also anastomose between the plexus and the <a href="/articles/cavernous-sinus">cavernous sinus</a>, via the foramina <a title="Foramen ovale (skull)" href="/articles/foramen-ovale-skull">ovale</a> and <a href="/articles/foramen-lacerum">lacerum</a>.</p><h4>Function</h4><p>The veins of the pterygoid plexus have valves, and the plexus acts as a small pump assisting the return of blood by the contractions of the lateral pterygoid muscle.</p>
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