Study on the relationships between the posterior superior alveolar artery and maxillary sinus floor, alveolar ridge by exquisitely dissection

Abstract

Objective To provide anatomical basis for maxillary sinus floor elevation and other clinical oral surgery by discussing the anatomical relationships between the posterior superior alveolar artery(PSAA) and maxillary sinus floor, and the relationships between the PSAA and alveolar ridge. Methods Ten sides of wet skull specimens fixed by 10% formaldehyde were exquisitely dissected from June 2015 to December 2015.The locations and anatomical relationships of the PSAA and maxillary sinus, alveolar ridge were studied respectively. The group of alveolar ridge and the group of maxillary sinus floor were set up. The maxillary second molar area, maxillary first molar area, maxillary second premolar area and maxillary first premolar area were selected as the positions of measurement in every group. The measured data were statistically processed with SPSS19.0 statistic software. Results PSAA arised from maxillary artery in the pterygopalatine fossa. It ran down the temporal side of maxilla body before entering the alveolar foramen with posterior superior alveolar nerve. Then in maxilla body or the wall of maxillary sinus, it passed through maxillary second molar, maxillary first molars, maxillary second premolars and maxillary first premolar root above like a converse arch and branched into in the buccal root and mucosa of the maxillary molars and premolars. In the group of alveolar ridge, in maxillary second molar area, maxillary first molar area, maxillary second premolar area and maxillary first premolar area, the mean distances from the PSAA to the alveolar ridge were(15.57±0.53) mm, (16.07±0.30) mm, (18.96±0.43) mm, (21.27±0.61) mm, respectively. In the group of maxillary sinus floor, in maxillary second molar area, maxillary first molar area, maxillary second premolar area and maxillary first premolar area, the mean distances from the PSAA to the maxillary sinus floor were(6.68±0.26)mm, (7.26±0.34) mm, (8.54±0.45) mm, (9.81±0.43) mm, respectively. The distance was gradually increasing. The differences were statistically significant(all P values<0.05). Conclusions In the process of the maxillary second molar to the maxillary first premolar, the PSAA has the shortest distance from maxillary sinus floor and alveolar crest, and increases the distance between maxillary second molar, maxillary first molar, maxillary second premolar and maxillary first premolar. The mean distances of PSAA to the maxillary sinus and alveolar crest in different landmarks are accurately measured, respectively. The data provide reliable anatomical basis for clinical operation and will be helpful to decrease the injury of PSAA in clinical oral surgery. Key words: Posterior superior alveolar artery; Maxillary sinus floor; Alveolar ridge; Anatomy