Infratemporal Fossa and TMJ Flashcards
Infratemporal Fossa
What is it?
“Space” beneath the base of the skull - between the skull and the ramus of the mandible
Infratemporal Fossa Boundaries
Anterior
Posterior surface of the maxilla
Infratemporal Fossa Boundaries
Styloid process
Infratemporal Fossa Boundaries
Superior
Infratemporal surface of the greater wing of sphenoid
Infratemporal Fossa Boundaries
Medial
Lateral pterygoid plate
Infratemporal Fossa Boundaries
Lateral
Ramus of the mandible
Contents of the ITF (6)
Pterygoid muscles
Mandibular division of trigeminal and branches
Maxillary artery and branches
Pterygoid venous plexus
Chorda tympani
Otic ganglion
Mandibular division of Trigeminal Nerve
Anterior division
2x deep temporal, massenteric, nerve to lateral pterygoid and buccal (sensory)
Mandibular division of Trigeminal Nerve
Posterior division
Lingual (joined by chorda tympani), inferior alveolar, mylohyoid, auriculotemporal
Mandibular division of Trigeminal Nerve
Pre-division
Meningeal branch, nerve to medial pterygoid and communicating branch (tensor tympani and tensor vali palatini)
Maxillary Artery
Branches and route
Deep temporal, masseteric and pterygoid branches to muscles
Passes between 2 head s of lateral pterygoid to go into pterygomaxillary fissure - fossa and give off posterior superior alveolar branch
Facial Arteries
Pterygoid Venous Plexus
Surrounds lateral pterygoid.
Veins from orbit, nasal and oral cavities
Communicates with cavernous sinus and facial vein (areas supplied by maxillary artery)
Drained by maxillary vein
Route for infection
Chorda Tympani
Chorda Tympani and Lingual Nerve