temporal & infratemporal fossa Flashcards
Temporal fossa
Temporal fossa
Related to the temple of the head
Temporal fossa communicates with the infratemporal fossa _____
Beneath the zygomatic arch
Infratemporal fossa
Infratemporal fossa
An irregularly shaped fossa inferior and medial to the zygomatic arch
Deep to the ramus of the mandible
Posterior to the maxilla
The infratemporal fossa communicates with the pterygopalatine fossa at the ______
pterygomaxillary fissure
Temporal fossa contents
- Temporalis muscle
- Deep temporal arteries (maxillary)
- Deep temporal nerves
- Superficial temporal artery (ext carotid)
- Auriculotemporal nerve
Name the borders of the infratemporal fossa
Infratemporal fossa shape
Irregularly shaped
Infratemporal fossa is deep and inferior to
zygomatic arch
Infratemporal fossa borders
Lat: Ramus of mandible
- Coronoid & condylar processes
Med: lateral pterygoid plate
Ant: posterior aspect of maxilla
Post: tympanic plate, mastoid & styloid processes of temporal bone
Sup: infratemporal surface of greater wing of sphenoid bone
Inf: medial pterygoid attaches to mandible near angle
the Infratemporal fossa communicates with the
temporal fossa
Contents of Infratemporal fossa
Distal attachment of temporalis
Medial and lateral pterygoid muscles
Maxillary artery
Pterygoid venous plexus
Mandibular nerve and branches
Otic ganglion
Includes temporomandibular joint
The maxillary artery is the
Larger of the two terminal branches of the external carotid artery
The maxillary artery arises
Arises posterior to the neck of the mandible
The maxillary artery is divided into three parts
based on its relation to the lateral pterygoid muscle
The maxillary artery is found in the
Infratemporal fossa
Either within or lateral to the superficial head of the lateral pterygoid muscle
Maxillary artery
Largest terminal branch
Posterior to neck of mandible
Embedded in parotid gland
Pass horizontal medial to neck
S-shaped course towards pterygopalatine fossa
3 Parts (lateral pterygoid m.)
Maxillary artery: 1st = mandibular part
Neck and sphenomandibular lig.
Parallel to and below auriculotemporal n.
Crosses inferior alveolar n.
To lower border of lat. pterygoid
