Pterygoid hamulus

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Pterygoid hamulus
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Sphenoid bone. Anterior and inferior surfaces. (Hamulus labeled at bottom left.)
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Sagittal section of skull. (Sphenoid is in yellow, and pterygoid hamulus labeled at bottom center.)
Details
Part of sphenoid bone of skull
System skeletal
Identifiers
Latin hamulus pterygoideus
TA98 A02.1.05.051
TA2 637
FMA 54722
Anatomical terms of bone

The pterygoid hamulus is a hook-like process at the lower extremity of the medial pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone of the skull. It is the superior origin of the pterygomandibular raphe, and the levator veli palatini muscle.

Contents

Structure

The pterygoid hamulus is part of the medial pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone of the skull. Its tip is rounded off. [1] It has an average length of 7.2 mm, an average depth of 1.4 mm, and an average width of 2.3 mm. [1] The tendon of tensor veli palatini muscle glides around it. [1]

Function

The pterygoid hamulus is the superior origin of the pterygomandibular raphe. It is also the origin of levator veli palatini muscle. [1]

Clinical significance

Rarely, the pterygoid hamulus may be enlarged, which may cause mouth pain. [2]

See also

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Medial pterygoid muscle Muscle involved in chewing

The medial pterygoid muscle, is a thick, quadrilateral muscle of the face. It is supplied by the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve (V). It is important in mastication (chewing).

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The lateral pterygoid muscle (or external pterygoid muscle) is a muscle of mastication. It has two heads. It lies superior to the medial pterygoid muscle. It is supplied by pterygoid branches of the maxillary artery, and the lateral pterygoid nerve (from the mandibular nerve, CN V3). It depresses and protrudes the mandible. When each muscle works independently, they can move the mandible side to side.

Levator veli palatini

The levator veli palatini is the elevator muscle of the soft palate in the human body. It is supplied via the pharyngeal plexus. During swallowing, it contracts, elevating the soft palate to help prevent food from entering the nasopharynx.

Superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle Muscle

The superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle is a muscle in the pharynx. It is the highest located muscle of the three pharyngeal constrictors. The muscle is a quadrilateral muscle, thinner and paler than the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle and middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle.

Tensor veli palatini muscle Muscle of the soft palate

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Pterygoid processes of the sphenoid Bone plates projecting from the sphenoid bone of the skull

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Pterygomandibular raphe Ligament formed from the buccopharyngeal fascia

The pterygomandibular raphe is a ligamentous band of the buccopharyngeal fascia. It is attached superiorly to the pterygoid hamulus of the medial pterygoid plate, and inferiorly to the posterior end of the mylohyoid line of the mandible. It connects the buccinator muscle in front to the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle behind. It resists mandibular realignment.

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Parapharyngeal space

The parapharyngeal space, is a potential space in the head and the neck. It has clinical importance in otolaryngology due to parapharyngeal space tumours and parapharyngeal abscess developing in this area. It is also a key anatomic landmark for localizing disease processes in the surrounding spaces of the neck; the direction of its displacement indirectly reflects the site of origin for masses or infection in adjacent areas, and consequently their appropriate differential diagnosis.

References

PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text in the public domain from page 151 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. 1 2 3 4 Putz, R.; Kroyer, A. (1 January 1999). "Functional morphology of the pterygoid hamulus". Anatomischer Anzeiger . 181 (1): 85–88. doi:10.1016/s0940-9602(99)80099-5. ISSN   1618-0402. PMID   10081567.
  2. Sasaki, T.; Imai, Y.; Fujibayashi, T. (2001). "A case of elongated pterygoid hamulus syndrome". Oral Diseases. 7 (2): 131–133. doi:10.1034/j.1601-0825.2001.70212.x. ISSN   1601-0825.