Temporal fossa

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Temporal fossa
The temporal fossa is clearly visible in this picture
Latin	fossa temporalis
Gray's	subject #46 183

The temporal fossa is a shallow depression on the side of the skull bounded by the temporal lines and terminating below the level of the zygomatic arch.

[edit] Boundaries

• Above: Superior and inferior temporal lines
• Roof: Temporalis fascia
• Posterior: Supramastoid crest
• Floor: Skull; more precisely Pterion
• Anterior: Zygomatic process of frontal bone, and Zygomatic process of maxilla

[edit] Contents

• Temporalis muscle
• Deep temporal arteries
• Deep temporal nerves
• Superficial temporal artery (from external carotid)
• Auriculotemporal nerve

[edit] External links

• Temporal+fossa at eMedicine Dictionary

v • d • e Bones of head and neck: cranial sutures, fontanelles, and related regions Cranial sutures Cranial: Frontoethmoidal - Frontal or Metopic (Frontal/Frontal) - Coronal (Frontal/Parietal) - Occipitomastoid (Occipital/Temporal) - Lambdoid (Parietal/Temporal) - Sagittal (Parietal/Parietal) - Sphenoethmoidal - Sphenofrontal - Sphenoparietal - Sphenosquamosal (Sphenoid/Temporal) - Sphenopetrosal (Sphenoid/Temporal) -Squamosal (Temporal/Parietal) - Petrosquamous (Temporal/Temporal) Facial: Palatomaxillary suture Cranial-facial: Sphenozygomatic - Zygomaticotemporal - Zygomaticofrontal Fontanelles Anterior fontanelle - Posterior fontanelle - Sphenoidal fontanelle - Mastoid fontanelle Foramina of multiple bones Inferior orbital fissure - Foramen lacerum - Jugular foramen - Nasolacrimal canal Fossae Anterior cranial fossa - Middle cranial fossa - Posterior cranial fossa - Cranial cavity Other compound structures Cranial: Asterion - Pterion - Calvaria - Stephanion - Bregma - Lambda Facial: Nasion Cranial-facial: Dacryon - Zygomatic arch - Temporal fossa - Infratemporal fossa - Pterygomaxillary fissure - Pterygopalatine fossa