Infratemporal fossa

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Infratemporal fossa

Left infratemporal fossa.
Latin	fossa infratemporalis
Gray's	subject #46 184
Dorlands/Elsevier	f_14/12376096

The infratemporal fossa is an irregularly shaped cavity, situated below and medial to the zygomatic arch.

1 Boundaries
2 Contents of the infratemporal fossa
3 Osteology
4 External links

[edit] Boundaries

It is bounded by the following structures:

anteriorly, by the infratemporal surface of the maxilla and the ridge which descends from its zygomatic process

posteriorly, by the articular tubercle of the temporal and the spinal angularis of the sphenoid

superiorly, by the great wing of the sphenoid below the infratemporal crest, and by the under surface of the temporal squama

inferiorly, by the alveolar border of the maxilla

medially, by the lateral pterygoid plate

[edit] Contents of the infratemporal fossa

[edit] Muscles

the lower part of the Temporalis muscle
the Pterygoidei internus and externus (internal and external pterygoid muscle)

[edit] Vessels

The internal maxillary vessels, consisting of the internal maxillary artery originating from the external carotid artery and its branches.

Internal maxillary branches found within the infratemporal fossa including the

[edit] Nerves

mandibular nerve and maxillary nerve

[edit] Mandibular nerve

Mandibular nerve which is the third branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V₃), also known as the "inferior maxillary nerve"] or nervus mandibularis

Motor branches:

Its motor fibers innervate all the muscles of mastication plus the mylohyoid, anterior belly of the digestive, and the tensores veli palati and tympani

Sensory innervation:

auricle
external acoustic meatus
tympanic membrane
temporal region
cheek
skin overlying the mandible (except at the angle of the mandible)
anterior 2/3 of tongue
floor of mouth
lower teeth
gingiva

[edit] Maxillary nerve

Maxillary nerve which is the second division of the trigeminal nerve (CNV₂). Also known as the superior maxillary nerve and nervus maxillaris

Branches include:

ganglionic branches to the pterygopalatine ganglion
zygomatic nerve
infraorbital nerve

Sensory innervation:

skin and conjunctiva of the lower eyelid
the skin and mucosa of the upper lip and cheek
the palate, upper teeth and gingiva
the maxillary sinus
wings of the nose
posterior/interior nasal cavity

[edit] Osteology

The foramen ovale and foramen spinosum open on its roof, and the alveolar canals on its anterior wall.

At its upper and medial part are two fissures, which together form a T-shaped fissure, the horizontal limb being named the inferior orbital, and the vertical one the pterygomaxillary.

[edit] External links

Dictionary at eMedicine Infratemporal+fossa

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.

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