Temporal, Infratemporal, Pterygopalatine Fossae

Question 1

Temporal and Infratemporal fossae

Location

Answer 1

• Interconnected Spaces
• Temporal fossa
  
  • Superior
  • Related to temple
  • Above zygomatic arch
• Infratemporal Fossa
  
  • Inferior
  • Wedge-shaped space
  • Deep to masseter and ramus of mandible

Question 2

Border of temporal Fossa

5 borders

Answer 2

• Superior border
  
  • Superior to temporal line
• Inferior border
  
  • Zygomatic arch
• Anterior border
  
  • Frontal process of zygomatic bone
  • Zygomatic process of frontal
• Posterior border
  
  • Superior temporal line
• Medial border
  
  • Temporal bone, frontal bone, parietal bone and greater wing of sphenoid

Question 3

Contents of temporal fossa

Answer 3

Temporalis m

Question 4

Arterial and venous supply to temporal fossa

3 Arteries

5 Veins

Answer 4

• Superficial temporal a (ECA)
  
  • Middle temporal a.
• Deep temporal ant and post (Maxillary a.)
• Venous draingae
  
  • Superficial temporal v.
  • Middle temporal v
  • Deep temporal (Ant/post)
  • Maxillary vein

Question 5

Innervation of temporal fossa

Motor and Cutaneous

Answer 5

• Deep temporal nerves (V3)
  
  • Motor to temporalis
• Auriculotemporal nerve (V3)
  
  • Cutaneous
• Zygomaticotemporal n (V2)
  
  • Cutaneous

Question 6

Borders of Infratemporal

Superior/roof

Inferior/floor

Answer 6

• Superior roof
  
  • Greater wing of sphenoid
  • Foramen ovale and spinosum
• Inferior/floor
  
  • No anatomic floor
  • Ends where medial pterygoid attaches to mandible

Question 7

Borders of infratemporal fossa

Lateral and medial walls

Answer 7

• Lateral
  
  • Ramus
  • Coronoid process
• Medial
  
  • Lateral pterygoid palate
  • Superior constrictor muscle
  • Palatine bone

Question 8

Borders of infratemporal fossa

Anterior and posterior walls

Answer 8

• Anterior
  
  • Posterior maxilla
• POsterior
  
  • Temporal Bone

Question 9

Infratemporal fossa

Bony landmarks 6

Answer 9

• Foramen ovale
• Foramen spinosum
• Mandibular fossa
• Inferior temporal fissure
• Petrotympanic fissure
• Pterygomaxillary fissure

Question 10

Sphenomandibular ligament

what is it

Attachment

Answer 10

• Extracapsular ligament of TMJ
• Attaches to sphenoid bone and lingula of mandible

Question 11

Foramen Ovale Contents 4

Answer 11

• Mandibular nerve V3
• Lesser petrosal n. CN 9
• Emissary veins
  
  • Traveling from cavernous sinus–> pterygoid plexus
• Otic ganglion is inferior to ovale

Question 12

Mandibular fossa

Answer 12

TMJ

Question 13

Petrotympanic fissure contents

3

Answer 13

• Chorda tympani CN 7
• Anterior tympanic artery

Question 14

Foramen Spinnosum contents 3

Answer 14

• Middle meningeal a. through loop of auriculotemporal nerve
• Middle meningeal v.
• Meningeal nerve V3

Question 15

Inferior orbital fissure contents

4

Answer 15

• Zygomatic n and infraorbital n of V2
• Ascending branches of pterygopalatine ganglion
• Infraorbital vessels
• Inferior division of opthalmic vein (directly connects to cavernous sinus?)

Question 16

Pterygomaxillary fissure of Infratemporal fossa

What does it serve as

Contents 4

Answer 16

• Doorway between infratemporal fossa and pterygopalatine fossa
• Structures
  
  • PSA n from V2
  • PSA a and v
  • 3rd part of Maxillary artery, PSA only
  • Pterygoid plexus

Question 17

Infratemporal fossa arterial supply

Answer 17

• Mandibular of maxillary
  
  • all branches
• Pterygoid of maxillary a
  
  • all branches
• Pterygopalatine of maxillary a
  
  • ONLY PSA

Question 18

Venous drainage of infratemporal fossa

Answer 18

• Pterygoid plexus
  
  • Communicates with cavernous sinus
    
    • Pharyngeal venous plexus
    • facial v
    • Opthalmic v
• Most common site of hematomas from intraoral injections (PSA)

Question 19

Innervation of infratemporal fossa 5

Answer 19

• V2
• V3 (passes through foramen ovale)
• CN VII
• CN IX
• Otic ganglion

Question 20

Pterygopalatine fossa

boundaries

Answer 20

• Superior/roof
  
  • Greater wing of sphenoid, palatine
• Inferior, floor
  
  • Pyramidal process of palatine
• Anterior
  
  • Maxilla
• Posterior
  
  • Pterygoid plates, Sphenoid
• Medial
  
  • Palatine
• Lateral
  
  • none
  • opens to infratemporal fossa, pterygomaxillary fissure

Question 21

Pterygopalatine contents

3

Answer 21

• Maxillary nerve V2
• Maxillary artery
• Pterygopalatine ganglion

Question 22

Pterygopalatine fossa 7 openings

Answer 22

• Inferior orbital
• Sphenopalatine foramen
• Foramen rotundum
• Pterygoid canal
• Palatovaginal canal
• Palatine canal
• Pterygomaxillary foramen

Question 23

Foramen rotundum***

connects

structures

Answer 23

• Connects pterygopalatine fossa to middle cranial fossa
• Maxillary nerve V2

Question 24

Pterygoid canal

Connects

Contains 2

Answer 24

• Connects to middle cranial fossa of cranial cavity
• Vidian n. (Nerve of pterygoid)
  
  • Pierces cartilage covering foramen lacerum
• Pterygoid artery

Question 25

Palatovaginal canal Connects to Contains 2

Answer 25

* Connects to nasopharynx * Pharyngeal nerve * Pharyngeal artery

Question 26

Palatine canal Connects to Contains 3

Answer 26

* Connects to roof of oral cavity (palate) * Greater/ Lesser Palatine n. V2 * Greater lesser palatine artery * Greater/lesser palatine vein

Question 27

Pterygomaxillary fissure of Pterygopalatine fossa Connects to Contains 4

Answer 27

* Connects to infratemporal fossa * PSA n. V2 * PSA artery, 3rd branch of Max. a * PSA vein * Pterygoid Plexus

Question 28

Infraorbital fissure Connects to Contains 5

Answer 28

* Connects to floor of orbit * Zygomatic n. V2 * Infraorbital V2 * Pterygopalatine ganglion branches * Infraorbital vessels * Inferior opthalmic vein

Question 29

Sphenopalatine foramen Connects to Contains

Answer 29

* Connects to nasal cavity * Nasopalatine n. V2 * Sphenopalatine vessels

Question 30

Arterial supply to Pterygopalatine fossa

Answer 30

3rd branch of maxillary artery

Question 31

Innervation of Pterygopalatine fossa

Answer 31

V2