infratemporal fossa Flashcards
what are the contents of the infratemporal fossa ?
vessels , nerves and muscles.
where is the infratemporal fossa situated?
it is below the middle cranial fossa of the skull , intervenes between the pharynx and ramus of the mandible.
list all the boundaries of the infratemporal fossa
anterior : maxilla
posterior :styloid process
laterally :ramus and coronoid process of mandible
medially :lateral pterygoid plate
above : greater wing of sphenoid
below : open
what are the muscles present in the infratemporal fossa?
muscles of mastication and it includes : the lateral and medial pterygoid , temporalis and masseters
what nerves are all the mastication muscles supplied by?
mandibular branch of the facial nerve .
what is the artery present in the infratemporal fossa?>
maxillary artery which is a branch of the external carotid artery
what vein is present in the infratemporal fossa?
pterygoid venous plexus
what 2 parts make up the lateral pterygoid and where do they originate from /insert into ?
upper :originates from greater wing of sphenoid
lower :originate from lateral pterygoid plate
both are inserted into the neck of the mandible which is called the pterygoid fovea
what is the neck of the mandible called ?
pterygoid fovea
what is the key muscle of the infratemporal fossa?
lateral pterygoid
what is the only muscle responsible for opening of the mouth (depression of mandible )
lateral pterygoid
what are the parts of the medial pterygoid and where do they originate/insert into?
Deep: lateral pterygoid plate
superficial :tuberosity of maxilla
they are inserted into the medial surface of ramus and angle of mandible
where does the temporalis muscles originate from and where is it inserted ?
it originates from the floor of the temporal process and is inserted in the coronoid process of the mandible(infront of the neck of mandbile or pterygoid favea )
what is the action of the temporalis muscle ?
it elevates(vertical fibers) and retracts(horizontal fibers) the mandible
where does the masseters muscle originate and insert into?
it originates from the inferior border of the zygomatic arch and inserts into the lateral surface of the ramus of the mandible
