Ossified Pterygospinous Ligament-An anomaly in the infratemporal region of human Skulls and its applied importance

Pterygospinous ligament stretches from pterygospinous process of lateral pterygoid plate to the spinous process of sphenoid bone. Ocassionally this ligament ossifies in elderly. We carried out a study in subharti medical college, Meerut on 50 adult dry skulls to observe ossification of pterygospinous ligament. In our study, bilateral completely ossified Pterygospinous ligament was found in only 2% of skulls and rest 98% showed no ossification of the ligament. This ligament lies in close relationship to foramen ovale thus may cause entrapment of various branches of mandibular nerve resulting in mandibular neuralgia. Knowledge of ossified pterygospinous ligament is of great importance to maxillofacial, dental surgeons and anesthetists.