- Infratemporal fossa
Infobox Anatomy
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Latin = fossa infratemporalis
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Caption = Left infratemporal fossa.
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DorlandsSuf = 12376096
The infratemporal fossa is an irregularly shaped cavity, situated below and medial to thezygomatic arch .Boundaries
It is bounded by the following structures:
* "anteriorly", by the
infratemporal surface of themaxilla and the ridge which descends from itszygomatic process * "posteriorly", by the
articular tubercle of the temporal and thespinal angularis of thesphenoid * "superiorly", by the
greater wing of the sphenoid below theinfratemporal crest , and by the under surface of thetemporal squama * "inferiorly", by the
alveolar border of the maxilla * "medially", by the
lateral pterygoid plate * "laterally", by the
ramus of mandible it has no floor
Contents of the infratemporal fossa
Muscles
* the lower part of the
Temporalis muscle
* thePterygoidei internus and externus (internal and external pterygoid muscle)Vessels
The internal maxillary vessles, consisting of the
maxillary artery originating from theexternal carotid artery and its branches.Internal maxillary branches found within the infratemporal fossa including the
*middle meningeal artery
*inferior alveolar artery
*deep temporal artery
*buccal artery VEINS
* pterygoid venous plexusNerves
Mandibular nerve ,inferior alveolar nerve ,lingual nerve ,buccal nerve ,chorda tympani nerve , andotic ganglion . [Moore, Keith L & Dalley, Arthur (2006). Clinically oriented anatomy (5th ed.), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.]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", enters infratemporal fossa frommiddle cranial fossa throughforamen ovale .Motor branches:
*meningeal nerve
*masseteric nerve
*deep temporal nerve
*lateral pterygoid nerve andmedial pterygoid nerve
*buccal nerve
*auriculotemporal nerve
*lingual nerve
*inferior alveolar nerve Its motor fibers innervate all the muscles of mastication plus the mylohyoid, anterior belly of the digastric, and the tensores veli palati and tympani
Sensory innervation:
*auricle
*external acoustic meatus
*tympanic membrane
*temporal region
*cheek
* skin overlying themandible (except at theangle of the mandible )
*anterior 2/3 of tongue
*floor of mouth
*lower teeth
*gingiva Osteology
The
foramen ovale andforamen spinosum open on its roof, and thealveolar 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 thepterygomaxillary .References
External links
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