Infratemporal fossa
anatomy lab#6
date: 13-3-2011
Boundaries:
Anterior : infratemporal surface of maxilla
which contains “posterior superior alveolar
foramina”
Posterior : head and neck of mandible , and
the styloid process
Laterally : Ramus of mandible
Medially : lateral pterygoid plate
Roof :
Lateral pterygoid plate and Infratemporal part
of greater wing of sphenoid which contains:
Foramen ovale behind it foramen spinosum
behind it spine of sphenoid
Contents:
3 muscles : lateral pterygoid , medial
pterygoid , temporalis
1 Artery : maxillary artery
2 Veins : maxillary vein and pterygoid plexus
3 Nerves : mandibular nerve V3 , chorda
tympani , otic ganglion
When we want to see the Infratemporal fossa
in the lab we move the parotid gland, the
masseter muscle, and the temporalis muscle.
The ramus of the mandible removed in the lab
to see the underlying structures.
Muscles :
Lateral pterygoid :
it has 2 heads : superior and inferior (it is the key for infratemporal
fossa because it divides the maxillary artery into divisions )
Superior head origin : from great wing of sphenoid
Inferior head origin : from outer surface of lateral pterygoid plate
Insertion : pterygoid fossa of neck of mandible , TMJ fibrous capsule
, TMJ articular disk
Action : protrusion and depression
Medial pterygoid
It has 2 heads : superficial and deep
Deep origin : inner (medial) surface of lateral pterygoid plate .
Superficial origin : tuberosity of maxilla .
Insertion : inner surface of ramus and angle of the mandible
Action : elevation and side to side movement
Maxillary artery (the largest branch of external carotid artery) :
The external carotid artery at the parotid gland divides into superficial temporal artery and
maxillary artery which starts behind the neck of mandible then pass medial to the neck of
mandible then to the lateral or medial surface the lateral ptrygoid , then it will dive through
pterygomaxillary fissure to enter ptrygopalatine fossa . in its way it divides into 3 branches :
1st mandibular part “for spaces”
it gives 5 branches
1) Inferior alveolar artery “the most important one”, which descend down with the
inferior alveolar nerve
2) Middle miningeal artery (cut in the lab)
3) Accessory middle miningeal (not always exist but if it exists it pass through foramen
ovale
4) Anterior tympanic : tympanic membrane
5) Deep auricular : external auditory meatus
2nd pterygoid part : passes lateral or medial to the lateral pterygoid and gives branches to
muscles “lateral and medial pterygoid , masseter , temporalis”
it gives 4 branches
1) deep temporal arteries
2) pterygoid arteries
3) masseteric artery
4) buccal artery
3rd pterygopalatine part (u can study it from Dr slides “slide num 20 cuz ma 7ka eshe
gded)
*Maxillary vein drains in Retromandibular vein which originate from superficial temporal and
maxillary vein
*Pterygoid venous plexus is a connection between facial nerve and cavernous sinus
*otic ganglion and corda tempani can’t be seen
Mandibular nerve is the largest branch of the V3 (trigeminal nerve ) pass through foramen
ovale which gives miningeal branch which go back and pass through foramen spinosum . it
”mandibular nerve” descend down then it gives 6 motor branches to muscles. four muscles of
mastication and the mylohyoid nerve which goes to mylohyoid muscle and anterior belly of
digastric muscle (so total is 6)
*Sensory beanches of mandibular nerve
From anterior to posterior : Buccal , lingual , inferior alveolar , auriculotemporal
1)Buccal nerve : pass between 2 heads of lateral pterygoid , then pass medial to ramus of
mandible , then in the cheeks , then it will go to the skin outer and mucosa inner to buccinator
muscle
The difference between it and the buccal branch of facial nerve ?
1)buccal nerve is inner ,and buccal branch of facial is outer
2)Lingual nerve: pass between lateral and medial pterygoid muscle the medial to the ramus of
the mandible , then it will pass via groove close to the root of third molar then it will go the
mouth to the anterior 2/3 of tongue and provide “general sensation”, but corda tempani carries
the “special sensation” , the posterior third from glossopharyngeal nerve , the epiglottis from
vagus nerve , so when we want to force our selves to vomit we put our finger on the epiglottis
3) Inferior alveolar nerve : pass between lateral and medial pterygoid muscle the medial to the
ramus of the mandible , it will go to the inner surface of the mandible and enter through
mandibular foramen supply the lower teeth and emerge as mental nerve
4)Auriculotemporal nerve : the only one which return back
originate as 2 root , surround middle miningeal artery , and pass medial to TMJ ‫بيلف لف حوليه‬
and become behind it , pass anterior to external auditory meatus , the only one that cross the
zygomatic arch , then supply auricle of the ear and temple muscle
dedicated to all my friend
wish you the best
done by :Mohammad Ghanim