Extracranial fossae

Question 1

What are the boundaries of the temporal fossa?

Answer 1

• Superior:
  1. Superior/inferior temporal lines
• Inferior:
  1. Lateral: Zygomatic arch
  2. Medial: Infratemporal crest (of greater wing of sphenoid)
• Lateral:
  1. Temporal fascia
• Anterior:
  1. Zygomatic process of frontal bone
  2. Frontal process of zygomatic bone

Question 2

What are the contents of the temporal fossa?

Answer 2

• Muscles:
  1. Temporalis
• Nerves:
  1. Deep temporal nerves
  2. Zygomaticotemporal nerves
• Arteries:
  1. Deep temporal arteries
  2. Middle temporal arteries

Question 3

What are the boundaries of the infratemporal fossa?

Answer 3

• Roof:
  1. Inferior surface of greater wings of sphenoid
  2. Temporal bones
• Medial walls:
  1. Anterior: Lateral plate of pterygoid process
  2. Posterior: Pharynx
• Lateral walls:
  1. Ramus of mandible
• Anterior walls:
  1. Posterior surface of maxilla

Question 4

What are the contents of the infratemporal fossa?

Answer 4

• Muscles:
  1. Medial pterygoid
  2. Lateral pterygoid
• Nerves:
  1. Mandibular division of trigeminal nerve
  2. Otic ganglion
  3. Chorda tympani (distal part)
• Blood vessels:
  1. Maxillary artery
  2. Pterygoid venous plexus

Question 5

What are the boundaries of the pterygopalatine fossa?

Answer 5

• Anterior walls: Posterior surface of maxilla
• Posterior walls: Sphenoid bone
• Medial: Lateral surface of palatine bones
• Lateral : Pterygomaxillary fissure
• Roof: Sphenoid bone

Question 6

What is the shape of the pterygopalatine fossa?

Answer 6

‘Inverted tear”

Question 7

What are the main contents of the pterygoplatine fossa?

Answer 7

• Maxillary artery
• V₂
• Pterygopalatine ganglion

Question 8

What are the channels of communication associated with the pterygopalatine fossa?

Answer 8

1. Foramen rotundum
2. Pterygoid canal
3. Palatovaginal canal
4. Palatine canal
5. Sphenopalatine foramen
6. Pterygomaxillary fissure
7. Inferior orbital fissure

Question 9

Where is the foramen rotundum located and what are its contents?

Answer 9

Location: Posterior wall

Communication: Middle cranial fossa

Contents:

• Maxillary division of trigeminal nerve [V]

Question 10

Where is the pterygoid canal located and what are its contents?

Answer 10

Location: Posterior wall

Communication: Middle cranial fossa

Contents:

• Artery of pterygoid canal
• Vein of pterygoid canal
• Nerve of pterygoid canal

Question 11

Where is the palatovaginal canal located and what are its contents?

Answer 11

Location: Posterior wall

Communication: Nasopharynx

Contents:

• Pharyngeal branch of maxillary nerve
• Pharyngeal artery

Question 12

Where is the palatine canal located and what are its contents?

Answer 12

Location: Inferior aspects

Communication: Roof of oral cavity

Contents:

• Descending palatine artery/vein
• Greater/lesser palatine nerves

Question 13

Where is the pterygomaxillary fissure located and what are its contents?

Answer 13

Location: Lateral aspects

Communication: Infratemproal fossa

Contents: None

Question 14

Where is the inferior orbital fissure located and what are its contents?

Answer 14

Location: Anterior aspects

Communication: Orbit

Contents:

• Infraorbital artery
• Inferior opthalmic vein (occasionally)
• Zygomatic branch of V₂

Question 15

Where is the sphenopalatine foramen located and what are its contents?

Answer 15

Location: Medial wall

Contents:

• Sphenopalatine artery/vein
• Nasopalatine nerves