Infratemporal Fossa

Question 1

Give the 5 boundaries of the infratemporal fossa

Answer 1

Anterior = posterior border of maxilla
Posterior = tympanic plate AND mastoid process
Superior = zygomatic arch
Medial = lateral pterygoid plate
Lateral = ramus of mandible

Question 2

Give the muscular contents of the infratemporal fossa

Answer 2

inferior part of temporalis
medial pterygoid
lateral pterygoid

Question 3

Give the neural contents of the infratemporal fossa

Answer 3

4 branches of CNV3 = auriculotemporal, inferior alveolar, lingual and buccal
Chorda tympani (CNVII)
Otic ganglion

Question 4

Give the arterial contents of the infratemporal fossa

Answer 4

Maxillary artery and its branches

Question 5

Give the venous contents of the infratemporal fossa

Answer 5

Pterygoid plexus

Question 6

Compare and contrast the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles

Answer 6

Medial pterygoid (MP) closes jaw, Lateral pterygoid (LP) opens jaw
MP runs vertically, LP runs horizontally
MP has a deep and a superficial head, LP has an inferior and a superior head
BOTH innervated by V3
Origin of MP DH = medial surface of lateral pterygoid plate, MP SH = maxillary tuberosity
Origin of LP SH = infratemporal crest of greater wing of sphenoid, LP IH = lateral surface of lateral pterygoid plate
Insertion MP = medial surface of ramus, insertion LP = mandibular fovea, TMJ capsule and articular disc.

Question 7

Give the clinical relevance of the pterygoid plexus

Answer 7

The pterygoid venous plexus is the communication between the superficial face and the dural venous sinuses

Question 8

What is the 1st part of the maxillary artery, relative to the lateral pterygoid

Answer 8

before the lateral pterygoid

Question 9

Give the 2 relevant branches of the 1st part of the maxillary artery and what they supply

Answer 9

The middle meningeal artery - cranial vault

Inferior alveolar artery - lower teeth

Question 10

What is the 2nd part of the maxillary artery, relative to the lateral pterygoid

Answer 10

associated with the lateral pterygoid

Question 11

Give the 2 relevant branches of the 2nd part of the maxillary artery, and what they supply

Answer 11

Buccal artery - cheek

Deep temporal arteries

Question 12

What is the 3rd part of the maxillary artery, relative to the lateral pterygoid

Answer 12

After the lateral pterygoid

Question 13

Give the 3 relevant branches of the 3rd part of the maxillary artery, and what they supply

Answer 13

sphenopalatine artery = nose/palate
infraorbital artery = upper teeth and skin of mid face
posterior superior alveolar artery = upper teeth

Question 14

What is the name of the ganglion just superior to the foramen ovale?

Answer 14

the trigeminal sensory ganglion

Question 15

What modality is the smaller root of CNV3?

Answer 15

smaller motor, larger sensory root

Question 16

Where do the motor and sensory roots of CNV3 unite?

Answer 16

unite outside the cranial vault

Question 17

How many divisions does CNV3 have and what are they?

Answer 17

2 - posterior division and anterior division

Question 18

How many motor nerves and how many sensory nerves does the anterior division of CNV3 have?

Answer 18

2 motor nerve and 1 sensory nerve

Question 19

Give the 3 nerves of the anterior division of V3, their modalities and what they innervate

Answer 19

Deep temporal = motor = temporalis
Buccal = sensory = mucosa and skin of cheek
Muscular branches = motor = masseter and lateral pterygoid

Question 20

Give the 5 nerves of posterior division of V3, their modalities and what they innervate

Answer 20

Auricolutemporal = sensory = traguardo and posterior temple
Inferior alveolar = sensory = lower dental arch and mandibular labial gingivae
Nerve to mylohyoid = motor = mylohyoid and ABD
Mental Nerve = sensory = chin, lower lip mucosa, gingivae of lower 3-3
Lingual Nerve = sensory = anterior 2/3rd of tongue, floor of mouth, mandibular lingual gingivae

Question 21

How many motor nerves and how many sensory nerves does the posterior division of CNV3 have?

Answer 21

4 sensory, 1 motor

Question 22

What is the ganglion immediately inferior to the foramen ovale and on the medial surface of V3?

Answer 22

Otic ganglion

Question 23

Give a description of the otic ganglion in terms of modality, functional association and what it innervates

Answer 23

Parasympathetic
Functionally associated with glossopharyngeal (CNIX)
Innervates the parotid gland for salivation

Question 24

What is the chorda tympani?

Answer 24

the chorda tympani is a branch of the facial nerve that originates in the taste buds, travels through the middle ear, and carries taste messages to the brain.

(string + crosses eardrum)

Question 25

What branch of V3 does the chorda tympani connect to?

Answer 25

The lingual nerve branch of V3

Question 26

What is carried back to CNVII in the chorda tympani fibres?

Answer 26

special sense of taste from anterior 2/3 tongue and palate

Question 27

What is supplied with secretomotor innervation by parasympathetic axons of CNVII?

Answer 27

submandibular and sublingual salivary glands