inferior orbital fissure

Introduction

A cleft between the greater wing of the sphenoid bone & the orbital plate of the maxilla on either side.

It gives passage to:

• maxillary nerve
• fibers from the pterygopalatine ganglion
• infraorbital vessels

More general terms

• foramen

Additional terms

• ganglion
• maxillary nerve (CN V-2)
• pterygopalatine

Component of

• sphenoid bone
• maxilla (upper jaw bone)