Palatovaginal canal

The palatovaginal canal (also pharyngeal canal) is a small canal formed between the sphenoidal process of palatine bone, and vaginal process of sphenoid bone.^[1]: 508 It connects the pterygopalatine fossa and^[1]: 370 and nasal cavity.^{[citation needed]} It transmits the pharyngeal nerve (pharyngeal branch of maxillary nerve), and the pharyngeal branch of maxillary artery.^[1]: 508

Palatovaginal canal
Base of skull. Inferior surface. (Pharyngeal canal labeled at right, tenth label from the top.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	canalis palatovaginalis, canalis pharyngeus
TA98	A02.1.00.064
TA2	466
FMA	54372
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

Anatomy

Its proximal opening is situated inferoposteriorly in the pterygopalatine fossa.^{[citation needed]}

Its distal opening is situated in the nasal cavity at the root of the pterygoid process near the lateral margin of the ala of vomer.^{[citation needed]}

Variation

An inconstant vomerovaginal canal may lie between the ala of the vomer and the vaginal process of the sphenoid bone, medial to the palatovaginal canal, and lead into the anterior end of the palatovaginal canal.^{[citation needed]}

Contents

The pharyngeal branch of the maxillary artery supplies the nasopharynx,^{[citation needed]} posterior part of the roof of the nasal cavity, sphenoid sinus, and pharyngotympanic tube.^[2]