The pterygoid canal (also vidian canal) is a passage in the sphenoid bone of the skull leading from just anterior to the foramen lacerum in the middle cranial fossa to the pterygopalatine fossa.[1]

Pterygoid canal
Base of skull. Inferior surface. (Sphenoid is yellow.)
Sphenoid bone. Anterior and inferior surfaces. (Pterygoid c. labeled at center left.)
Details
ArteryArtery of the pterygoid canal
NerveNerve of pterygoid canal
Identifiers
Latincanalis pterygoideus
TA98A02.1.05.053
TA2639
FMA54756
Anatomical terminology

It transmits the nerve of pterygoid canal (Vidian nerve), the artery of the pterygoid canal (Vidian artery), and the vein of the pterygoid canal (Vidian vein).

Structure

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The pterygoid canal runs through the medial pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone to the back wall of the pterygopalatine fossa.

Additional images

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References

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  1. ^ Omami, Galal; Hewaidi, Gebril; Mathew, Reji (1 October 2011). "The neglected anatomical and clinical aspects of pterygoid canal: CT scan study". Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy. 33 (8): 697–702. doi:10.1007/s00276-011-0808-8. ISSN 1279-8517. PMID 21445687. S2CID 206948796. Retrieved 5 November 2022.