Infratemporal fossa Location Boundaries Contents Maxillary artery & its branches
Boundaries: Lateral=Ramus of Mandible Anterior=Maxilla Medial=Lat. Pterygoid Plate Roof=Sphenoid T emp o ral Maxi l la Pa riet a l S p h enoid Frontal Z Lat. Pterygoid Plate Pterygomaxillary Fissure Infratemporal Fossa
Infra t emporal 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: With temporal fossa: through a gap deep to zygomatic arch With cranial cavity: through foramen ovale, foramen spinosum, foramen lacerum With orbit: through inferior orbital fissure 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 M a s set e r Medial Pterygoid Buccinator* Lateral Pterygoid
Otic ganglion. Lesser petrosal n. Facial n.. Chorda tympani Inferior alveolar n. Lingual n. Submandibular ganglion. Auriculotemporal n.
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.
Accessory me n i n g e a l : Enters cranial cavity via foramen ovale. Supplies semilunar ganglion (CN V) and dura mater.
Branches to muscles of ma s ti c at i o n . 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: T o p h ar y n x a n d auditory tube.