Infratemporal Fossa Flashcards
Boundaries of infratemporal fossa
Roof- infratemporal surface of greater wing of sphenoid.
Medial wall- lateral pterygoid plate of sphenoid
Lateral wall- ramus of mandible
Anterior wall- infratemporal surface of maxilla
Floor- open and extends to the level of the base of mandible
Posterior wall- styloid process of temporal bone
Contents of infratemporal fossa
- Muscles: lateral pterygoid, medial pterygoid tendon of temporalis
- Blood vessels: maxillary artery, maxillary vein, pterygoid venous plexus
- Neural structures : Mandibular nerve, chorda tympani nerve, otic ganglion
Muscles of mastication
Primary: -masseter
-temporalis
-lateral pterygoid
- medial pterygoid
Secondary: - digastric
-buccinator
-mylohyoid
- geniohyoid
Characteristics of muscles of mastication
- All are located in or around the infratemporal fossa.
- All insert into ramus of mandible.
- All are innervated by mandibular division of Trigeminal.
- All are concerned with movements of the mandible on the temporomandibular joints.
- All develop from mesoderm of first pharyngeal arch
Attachments and actions of temporalis?
- fan shaped and covered by tough temporal fascia
Origin: whole floor of temporal fossa except part formed by zygomatic bone
and deep surface of temporal
Insertion: ramus of mandible
Innervation: anterior and posterior deep temporal nerves
Actions: elevates mandible
- posterior fibers retract mandible after it has been protruded
Discuss the masseter muscle
# thick quadrilateral muscle
Origin:
superficial layer- arises by thick aponeurosis from maxillary process of zygomatic bone and anterior two third of inferior border of zygomatic arch.
Middle layer- lower border of the posterior one third of zygomatic arch
Deep layer- deep surface of zygomatic arch
Insertion:
superficial fibers-angle and lower posterior half of lateral surface of mandible
Middle fibers- central part of ramus
Deep fibers- upper part of ramus of mandible and its coronoid process
Nerve: masseteric nerve, branch of anterior division of mandibular nerve
Actions: elevates mandible to close mouth
Discuss lateral pterygoid muscle
# short thick conical muscle with apex pointing upwards
Origin: 2 heads
-upper small head- infratemporal surface and crest of greater wing sphenoid
-lower large head- lateral surface of lateral pterygoid plate of sphenoid bone
Insertion : converge to form thick tendon
-pterygoid fovea on the front of the neck of mandible
- articular disc and capsule of the temporomandibular joint.
Nerve: branch of anterior division of mandibular nerve
Medial pterygoid muscle
# thick quadrilateral muscle with 2 heads
Origin:
-superficial head- maxillary tuberosity and lateral surface of pyramidal process of palatine bone
-large deep head- medial surface of lateral pterygoid plate and grooved surface of the pyramidal process of palatine bone.
Insertion: medial surface and angle of ramus of mandible
Innervation: nerve to medial pterygoid, branch from main trunk of mandibular nerve
Actions:
1. Two of them elevate mandible
2. Acting with lateral pterygoids, protrude mandible
3. Medial and lateral pterygoid of one side acting together, corresponding side is rotated forwards and to opposite side.
4. Lateral and medial pterygoid of two sides when contracted alternately produce,side to side movements which are used to grind food
Discuss maxillary artery(origin, parts and relations)
larger terminal branch of external carotid artery
Origin: arises behind neck of mandible, runs horizontally upward up to lower border of head of lateral pterygoid. Turns upwards and forwards crossing lower head of lateral pterygoid superficially. Emerges between two heads of lateral pterygoid.Enters pterygopalatine fossa by passing through pterygomaxillary fissure.
Parts and Relations:
1. First part(mandibular part)- from origin to lower border of lateral pterygoid. Lies between neck of mandible laterally and sphenomandibular ligament medially. Auriculotemporal nerve lies above this part.
2. Second(pterygoid) part- from lower border to the lower border of lower head of lateral pterygoid.
3. Third(pterygopalatine) part- from upper border of the lower head of lateral pterygoid to pterygopalatine fossa. In pterygopalatine fossa it lies in front of pterygopalatine ganglion
Discuss the branches of maxillary artery
- From the first part:
1.deep auricular- supplies skin of external acoustic meatus and outer surface of tympanic membrane.- Anterior tympanic- supplies inner surface of tympanic membrane
- Middle meningeal- (largest meningeal branch) supplies meninges and skull bone .
- Accessory middle meningeal- supplies meninges and structures in infratemporal fossa.
- Inferior alveolar/dental- supplies molar, premolar teeth and adjoining gum. It then divides into mental and incisive branches. Incisive branch supplies canine and incisors , mental supplies skin of chin. Before entering mandibular foramen, it gives two branches; lingual branch which accompanies lingual nerve and supply the mucous membrane of cheek. Mylohyoid branch pierces sphenomandibular ligament and runs in mylohyoid groove. Supplies myohyoid muscle.
- Second part:
- Deep temporal arteries- supply temporalis and lie deep to it
- Pterygoid branches- supply medial and lateral pterygoid muscles
- Masseteric artery- supplies masseter from its deep surface.
- Buccal artery- supplies buccinator
- Third part:
- Posterior superior alveolar artery- divides into two or three branches and supplies molar and premolar teeth and mucus membrane of maxillary air sinus.
- Infraorbital artery- in the orbit; branches to orbital contents, middle superior alveolar artery to premolars, anterior superior alveolar artery which supplies maxillary air sinus, Canine and incisor teeth of upper jaw. In the face; branches to lacrimal sac, medial angle of eye, side of nose and upper lip.
- Greater palatine artery- supplies roof of mouth and adjoining gum, gives off lesser palatine arteries in greater palatine canal that emerge through foramina and supply soft palate and tonsil
- Pharyngeal artery - supplies mucus membrane of nasopharyngeal, auditory tube and sphenoidal air sinus.
- Artery of pterygoid canal- supplies pharynx, auditory tube, tympanic cavity.
- Sphenopalatine artery- continuation of maxillary. Divides into posterior lateral nasal branches which supply lateral wall of the nose and sphenoidal and ethmoidal air sinuses and posterior septal branches
largest division of trigeminal, both sensory and motor, nerve of first pharyngeal arch
Course and relations of mandibular nerve
Origin: begins in middle cranial fossa from a larger sensory root from the Trigeminal ganglion and smaller motor root from the motor nucleus
Course: passes through foramen ovale and divides into 2 divisions, anterior and posterior
Branches:
-from the trunk; nerve to medial pterygoid (motor) supplies tensor palati and tensor tympani and nervus spinosus(sensory to dura)
-from the anterior division; muscular to muscles of mastication(masseteric nerve supplies massseter, deep temporal nerves supply temporalis and nerve to lateral pterygoid) except medial pterygoid, buccal branch(sensory) to skin and mucus membrane over buccinator,
- from the posterior division ; auriculotemporal, inferior alveolar and lingual nerve
Auriculotemporal nerve
Origin: by 2 roots surrounding middle meningeal artery
Distribution: 1. Sensory fibers to scalp, auricle, external auditory meatus, tympanic membrane, parotid gland, temporomandibular joint
2. Parasympathetic fibres to parotid gland from otic ganglion
Inferior alveolar nerve
Course: passes through mandibular canal and gives 3 branches
Branches: 1.nerve to mylohyoid(motor) supplies anterior belly of digastric and mylohyoid.
2. Incisive branch which supplies incisors and canines
3. Mental nerve passes through mental foramen to supply chin and lower lip.
Lingual nerve
Landmarks: joins the chorda tympani
Runs below last molar
Distribution: lingual nerve carries general sensation from the anterior 2/3 of the tongue.
Chorda tympani fibers- taste sensation from the anterior 2/3 of the tongue.
-Parasympathetic fibers to submandibular and sublingual salivary glands.( synapse in submandibular ganglion)
Trigeminal nerve lesion
Paralysis of muscles of mastication of same side
Loss of all sensations on same side of face
Trigeminal neuralgia- pain along distribution of any branch of Trigeminal. It is due to compression of Trigeminal nerve by a tumor or cyst or blood vessel.