pharyngomaxillary space

a potential space of the neck bounded by the buccopharyngeal fascia, the internal pterygoid muscle, and the prevertebral fascia, forming a cone with its base at the sphenoid bone and its apex at the hyoid bone; it is divided by the styloid process into anterior and posterior compartments, the latter containing the carotid sheath and cranial nerves IX–XII. Called also parapharyngeal s. and lateral pharyngeal s.