Ossifi cation of the pterygospinous and pterygoalar ligaments and their clinical relevance

Objectives: Th e objective of this research was to determine the morphometric characteristics of lateral pterygoid plate, incidence and detailed anatomy of pterygospinous and pterygoalar bony bridges and their correlation with oval foramen. Material and methods: Th e anatomical variations of lateral pterygoid plate were studied at 100 dried human skulls (50 males, 50 females), bilaterally. Th e statistical analyses were conducted according to the side of cranium, gender and age. Results: Th e presence of complete pterygospinous foramen was found in 4% and presence of pterygoalar foramen in 15% of cases. Th e signifi cant diff erence of incomplete pterygospinous bony bridges incidence according to gender has not been confi rmed. However, it has been established higher frequency of complete pterygospinous and pterygoalar foramen, as well as incomplete pterygoalar foramen in men compared with female skulls. Higher frequency of pterygospinous foramen was noticed on male skulls in comparing to female skulls with a ratio 3/1. Th e pterygoalar foramen had left-sided predominance, independently to gender. We found a signifi cantly higher frequency in presence of complete ossifi ed pterygoalar bony bridges on the left side (12% cases), comparing to right side (3% cases) regardless to gender. Conclusion: Ossifi cations of pterygospinous and pterygoalar ligaments aren’t as rare as previously thought. While interpreting radiological images and performing procedures that require access to foramen ovale, infratemporal fossa and parapharyngeal region, variable ossifi ed formations at lateral plate’s posterior border of pterygoid process should be kept in mind.