Dr. Anitha Nancy T, Asst. professor, Department of Anatomy

Infratemporal fossa

Location

Boundaries

Contents

Maxillary artery & its branches

Boundaries:

Lateral=Ramus of Mandible

Anterior=Maxilla

Medial=Lat. Pterygoid Plate

Roof=Sphenoid

Temporal

Maxilla

Parietal

Sphenoid

Frontal

Z

Lat. Pterygoid Plate

Pterygomaxillary Fissure

Infratemporal Fossa

Temporal Fossa

Infratemporal

Fossa

Anterior:

Maxilla.

Superior:

Greater wing of sphenoid.

Medial: Lateral pterygoid plate.

Lateral: Coronoid process and ramus of mandible.

Inferior: Continuous with neck.

Posterior: TMJ and styloid process.

COMMUNICATIONS: 1. With temporal fossa: through a gap deep

to zygomatic arch 2. With cranial cavity: through foramen

ovale, foramen spinosum, foramen lacerum

3. With orbit: through inferior orbital fissure 4. With pterygopalatine fossa: through

pterygomaxillary fissure

Mandibular nerve.

Maxillary artery.

Pterygoid plexus of vein

Medial and lateral pterygoid muscles.

Lower part of temporalis muscle.

Chorda tympani nerve.

Otic ganglion.

Temporalis

Masseter

Medial Pterygoid Buccinator*

Lateral Pterygoid

Elevate mandible EXCEPT Lateral pterygoid Protrude mandible EXCEPT Temporalis Are supplied by anterior division of

mandibular nerve EXCEPT Medial pterygoid

Inferior alveolar n.

Lingual n.

Facial n..

Submandibular ganglion.

Otic ganglion. Lesser petrosal n.

Chorda tympani

Auriculotemporal n.

Ext. Cartotid

Inf. Alveolar Post. Sup. Alveolar

Maxillary

Post. Deep Temporal

Ant. Deep Temporal

Infra-orbital

Ext. Cartotid

Post. Deep Temporal Ant. Deep Temporal

Middle

Meningeal

Septal brr.

Descending palatine Greater palatine Lesser palatine

Sphenopalatine

V3

Terminal branch of external carotid artery.

Divided into 3 parts by lateral pterygoid

muscle: Artery may pass superficial or deep to

muscle.

First part: Origin to lower margin inferior to lateral

pterygoid.

Second part: Superficial or deep to inferior

lateral pterygoid.

Third part: Lies within pterygopalatine fossa.

Deep auricular:

Lies within

parotid gland.

Supplies TMJ,

ext. aud.

Meatus, outer

surface of ear

drum.

Anterior

tympanic:

Arises within

parotid gland.

Supplies

tympanic cavity

and inner

surface of ear

drum.

Middle

meningeal:

Enters cranial

cavity via

foramen

spinosum.

Supplies skull

and dura mater.

Accessory

meningeal:

Enters cranial

cavity via

foramen ovale.

Supplies

semilunar

ganglion (CN V)

and dura mater.

Inferior alveolar: Enters mandibular

foramen.

Supplies lower teeth and gums.

Passes through

mental foramen and becomes mental artery.

Branches to

muscles of

mastication.

Buccal artery.

Posterior superior

alveolar:

Runs with superior

alveolar nerve (CN

V-2).

Supplies upper

molars and

premolars.

Infraorbital: Enters orbit via

inferior orbital fissure.

Runs with

infraorbital nerve. Supplies lower

eyelid, side of nose, upper lip, oral mucosa.

Gives rise to

anterior and middle superior alveolar arteries.

Descending palatine: To soft and hard

palates. Terminal branch. Artery of pterygoid canal: To pharynx and

auditory tube.