Temporal & Infratemporal Fossa Flashcards
This fissure is formed by the anterior edge of the lateral pterygoid plate and the posterior surface of the lateral maxilla and is the lateral entrance to the pterygopalatine fossa.
Pterygomaxillary fissure
This canal conducts the inferior alveolar nerve and artery as they depart the infratemporal fossa:
mandibular canal
The Foramen Ovale of the skull conducts the following neurovascular structures:
Otic ganglion V3- Mandibular n. of CN V Accessory meningeal artery Lesser petrosal n. of CN IX Emissary veins
*Remember Mnemonic: OVALE
The following structures pass through the foramen spinosum:
The middle meningeal artery, middle meningeal vein, and the meningeal branch of the mandibular nerve pass through the foramen spinosum.
This canal of the maxilla transmits the posterior superior alveolar vessels and nerves that supply blood and innervation to the upper teeth.
Alveolar canal
The contents of this fissure include:
Communications of cranial nerve VII to the infratemporal fossa. A branch of cranial nerve VII, the chorda tympani, runs through the fissure to join with the lingual nerve providing special sensory (taste) innervation to the tongue.
Petrotympanic fissure
The masseter m. originates from:
Zygomatic arch
The masseter m. inserts:
Lateral angle of the mandible
The masseter m. is innervated by:
V3- masseteric n.
The action of the masseter m. is to:
Elevate the Mandible
The temporalis m. originates from:
Temporal fossa and temporal fascia
The temporalis m. inserts:
Coronoid process, ramus of the mandible down to the 3rd molar tooth.
The temporalis m. is innervated by:
V3- Deep temporal nn.
The action of the temporalis m. is:
elevate and retract mandible
The medial pterygoid m. (deep head) originates from:
medial side of lateral pterygoid plate & pyramidal process of the palatine bone.
The medial pterygoid m. (superficial head) originates from:
Tuberosity of maxilla & pyramidal process of the palatine bone
The medial pterygoid m. inserts on the:
medial angle of the mandible
The medial pterygoid m. is innervated by:
V3- nerve to the medial pterygoid
The action of the medial pterygoid is:
Elevate and laterally move the mandible
The origin of the lateral pterygoid m. (upper head) is:
roof of the infratemporal fossa (horizontal part/ascending part of greater wing of sphenoid bone)
The origin of the lateral pterygoid m. (lower head) is:
lateral surface of the lateral pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone
The insertion of the upper head of the lateral pterygoid m. is:
TMJ Disc
The insertion of the upper head of the lateral pterygoid m. is:
Fovea of the Mandible (found on the medial, posterior aspect of the mandubular notch)
The innervation to the lateral Pterygoid m. is the:
V3- N. to the lateral pterygoid
The action of the lateral pterygoid m. is:
protrude and laterally move the mandible
When opening the mouth slightly (<15 degrees abduction), the following joint movement is made at the TMJ:
Hinge joint movement
When opening the mouth fully (>15 degrees abduction), the following joint movement is made at the TMJ:
Hinge joint movement AND the head of the mandible slides anteriorly out of the mandibular fossa onto the articular tubercle .
The innervation of the TMJ capsule is provided by three branches of V3. Name them:
Auriculotemporal n.
Deep temporal n.
Masseteric n.
The inferior alveolar artery is a branch off the _________ artery, which is a major branch of the ECA.
Maxillary artery
The middle meningeal artery is a branch off the _______ artery, which is a major branch of the ECA.
Maxillary artery
The posterior superior alveolar artery, which supplies blood to the top row of teeth, is a branch off the ________ artery, which is a major branch off the ECA.
Maxillary artery
The sphenopalatine artery is a branch off the ________ artery which is a major branch of the ECA.
Maxillary artery
The infraorbital artery is a branch off the _______ artery which is a major branch of the ECA.
Maxillary artery
Name the 5 major branches of the Maxillary artery:
Inf. alveolar artery Middle meningeal artery Posterior superior alveolar artery Sphenopalatine artery Infraorbital artery
The lingula of the mandible serves as an attachement point for the _______ ligament.
Sphenomandibular ligament
Name the three ligaments of the TMJ and describe their position relative to the TMJ and insertions on the mandible
Sphenomandibular ligament- medial to TMJ. Attaches to lingula of mandible.
Stylomandibular ligament- Medial to TMJ. Attaches to ramus and angle of mandible.
Lateral Ligament- runs from articular tubercle to neck of mandible (lateral to TMJ)
Describe the joint capsule of the TMJ.
Synovial Joint
Name the bones that make up the floor of the temporal fossa.
Temporal
Sphenoid
Parietal
Frontal
Name the junction of the four bones of the temporal fossa and its clinical significance.
Pterion. Cranial fracture here can damage middle meningeal artery resulting in extradural hematoma.
What structures for the roof of the temporal fossa?
Temporalis m. and fascia
The temporal and infratemporal fossae communicate via the space deep to this structure:
Zygomatic arch
When the mandibular branch (V3) of CN V passes through the foramen ovale, it finds itself in this space:
Infratemporal fossa
The Pterygomaxillary fissure conducts this vascular structure:
Maxillary artery
The anterior boundary of the ITF is formed by:
Infratemporal surface of maxilla
The posterior boundary of the ITF is formed by:
Temporal bone including vertical plane of styloid process
The superior boundary of the IFT is formed by:
Infratemporal surface and crest of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone.
The medial boundary of the ITF is formed by:
Lateral Pterygoid plate
The lateral boundary of the ITF is formed by the:
Medial surface of the ramus of the mandible
List the contents of the ITF:
Muscles of mastication V3 and its branches Maxillary artery and its branches Pterygoid venous plexus Maxillary vein
Name the 8 muscles of the 1st pharyngeal arch.
Masseter m Temporalis m Medial Pterygoid m Lateral Pterygoid m Mylohyoid m Anterior belly of digastric m Tensor veli palatini m Tensor tympani m
The upper and lower compartments of the TMJ are divided by the articular disk. The two components serve two separate functions. Describe these functions associated with their respective compartment.
Upper- sliding head of mandible onto articular tubercle.
Lower- simple hinge joint movement
The masseteric fascia and pterygoid fascia are superior continuations of the _______ _________ facia.
Cervical investing fascia. (Deep cervical fascia)
The pterygoid fascia follows the deep or superficial surface of the medial pterygoid m.?
Deep surface
The temporalis m. is invested by the ________ fascia.
Temporal fascia
Posteriorly, the masseteric fascia is continuous with the _______ fascia.
Parotid fascia
The temporalis muscle takes its origins from 2 places. Name them.
Bony floor or temporal fossa and temporal fascia.
The superficial and deep layers of the temporal fascia attach to both the medial and lateral borders of the _______ ______.
Zygomatic arch
This artery courses through the ITF and Pterygopalatine fossa distributes to many structures of the head such as the muscles of mastication, part of the ear, cranial cavity, mandible, teeth, chin, gingiva, nasal cavity, sinuses, and part of the orbit.
Maxillary artery
Name the 3 divisions of the Maxillary artery.
Mandibular- in ITF
Pterygoid- in ITF
Pterygopalatine fossa
The arteries leaving the 1st part of the Maxillary artery primarily exit the ITF via:
bony foramina in the inferior skull
The branches leaving the 2nd part of the Maxillary artery are primarily _______ branches.
Muscular branches (supplying muscles of mastication)
Name the branches of the 1st part of the Maxillary artery from proximal to distal.
Deep auricular a Anterior tympanic a Middle meningeal a Accessory meningeal a Inferior alveolar a
Name the branches of the 2nd part of the Maxillary artery from proximal to distal.
Masseter m
Posterior deep temporal a
Interior pterygoid a
Exterior pterygoid a
The Deep auricular a. supplies:
External auditory meatus, External tympanic membrane, TMJ
The anterior tympanic branch of the maxillary a. supplies:
internal aspect of the tympanic membrane
Inferior alveolar a. supplies:
teeth of lower jaw and mandible
The inferior alveolar a. leaves the mandible via the mental foramen and becomes the _______ artery.
Mental artery
The middle meningeal artery inters the craniul cavity via the ______ _______ to supply the periosteum, bone, dura mater of lateral wall, calvaria of neurocranium, tympanic cavity and tensor tympani m.
foramen spinosum
The accessory meningeal passes through this hole in tke inferior skull:
Foramen ovale
The buccal artery supplies:
Buccal fat pad
Buccinator m.
Buccal oral mucosa
This artery passes through a loop formed by branches of the auriculotemporal n.
middle meningeal artery
The pterygoid venous plexus is located partly between these two muscles of the ITF:
Temporalis m. and Pterygoid mm.
The pterygoid plexus anastomoses with the cavernous sinus via:
emissary veins
The pterygoid plexus anastomosis with the Facial vein via the:
Deep facial vein
The confluence of these two veins forms the retromandibular vein
Superficial temporal
Maxillary
The buccal n. of V3 is motor or sensory?
Sensory
When CN V enters the ITF, it is described as having two divisions: Anterior and Posterior. The anterior division does what?
All motor to muscles of mastication except the Buccal n.
When CN V enters the ITF, it is described as having two divisions: Anterior and Posterior. The posterior division does what?
All sensory to teeth, tongue and parotid fascia except motor to mylohyoid m. and anterior belly of digastric m.
This nerve “hitchhikes” with the lingual n. to the tongue:
Chorda Tympani
The nerve that hitchhikes with the lingual n. to the tongue serves what purpose? What is it called?
parasympathetic innervation to submandibular and sublingual glands and taste from anterior 2/3 of tongue.
Chorda Tympani
What are the function(s) of the auriculotemporal n.?
GSA to parotid fascia and scalp anterior to ear
Taste buds on the soft palate are innervated by CN ______.
CN VII (Facial) via greater petrosal n.
The Geniculate ganglion of CN VII is found in this structure:
Genu of the facial canal within petrous part of temporal bone
The Chorda tympani exits the skull via this fissure:
Petrotympanic fissure
The cell bodies of neurons conducting taste info from the anterior 2/3 of tongue and soft palate are found where?
Geniculate ganglion found in genu of facial canal within petrous part of temporal bone.
Branchiomeric motor neurons are found traversing this hole in the skull on their way to the muscles of facial expression:
Stylomastoid foramen
Sympathetic innervation to the submandibular and lingual glands are via postganglionic sympathetics that ride along these vessels:
lingual and facial arteries
