An anatomical study of the pterygospinous and pterygoalar bars and foramina – their clinical relevance

SummaryAimTo describe the incidence and the detailed anatomy of the pterygospinous and pterygoalar bony bridges, their variations, and their clinical relevance. These bony structures are ossified ligaments extending from distinct points of the lateral surface of the lateral pterygoid lamina to the undersurface of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, and located close to the foramen ovale. By means of the completely ossified ligaments two individual foramens are formed, respectively: the pterygospinous (Cinivini's) foramen and the pterygoalar foramen (porus crotaphitico-buccinatorius).Material and methodsThe existence of the pterygospinous and pterygoalar bony bridges and foramina was studied in 50 Greek dry skulls.ResultsIn this study, complete ossified pterygospinous ligaments were found in only one skull bilaterally (two out of 100 observations) and incomplete ossification in 25 out of the 100 cases. Complete and incompletely ossified pterygoalar ligaments were found unilaterally in one and in seven out of the 100 observations, respectively.ConclusionBearing in mind the relatively small sample of the study the incidence of the pterygospinous bony bridges seems to be higher than the pterygoalar bridges. Also, complete ossification of both foramina may appear less frequently than the incomplete ossification. The knowledge of the detailed anatomy of these structures can increase the success of diagnostic evaluation and approaches to the region.