1. Infratemporal Fossa
Nervous Structures
Kristine Joy Leyva
DMD1-A

3. I. Mandibular Nerve
- largest of the 3 divisions of CN V
- Mixed nerve
- large sensory and small motor
root that unite after passing through
foramen ovale to enter
infratemporal fossa

4. Anterior Division: Masseteric
anterior to TMJ
laterally
superior to and posterior
of temporalis
lateral
pterygoid M.
mandibular
notch
small branch
to TMJ

5. Anterior Division: Anterior
and Posterior Deep Temporal
superior to lateral pterygoid M.;
between skull and temporalis; pass
deep to muscle it innervates
Anterior Division: Medial
Pterygoid
enters deep surface of muscle

6. Anterior Division: Buccal
descends along
anterior lower part of
between 2 temporalis
heads of lateral
pterygoid
mucous supply skin of
membrane buccinator
gingiva along
mandibular molars

7. Posterior Division: Auriculotemporal
runs posteriorly, inferior to
arise from 2 lateral pterygoid
roots
superiorly between medial aspect of
auricle and condyle neck of mandible
of mandible deep to
parotid gland
ascends over divides to superficial
zygomatic arch temporal branches

8. Posterior Division: Lingual
inferior to lateral
pterygoid and joins Chorda
medial and Tympani
anterior to I.A.N.
between medial
oral cavity pterygoid and
ramus of mandible

9. Posterior Division: Inferior Alveolar
inferior to
descends with lateral
inferior alveolar pterygoid
artery
between sphenomandibular
ligament and ramus of
INNERVATES: lower mandible
teeth and gingiva
from premolars
anteriorly to midline
mandibular foramen

10. Posterior Division: Mylohyoid
branch form descends in a
I.A.N groove on deep side
of ramus
superficial surface
of Mylohyoid M.

12. II. Maxillary Nerve: Posterior Superior
Alveolar Nerve
infratemporal fossa (on
pterygomaxillary posterior surface of
fissure maxilla along maxillary
tuberosity)
enter posterior
surface of maxilla gingival branch
innervate maxillary
sinus and molars

13. III. Chorda Tympani
SOURCE: branch from facial n. in tympanic cavity
preganglionic enter tympanic cavity
sympathertic fibers to
submandibular ganglion and lies along
and taste fibers to tympanic membrane
anterior 2/3 of tongue and malleus
joins lingual nerve
in infratemporal petrotympanic fissure
fossa

14. IV. Lesser Petrosal
SOURCE: tympanic plexus along promontory of
the ear and re-forms as lesser petrosal nerve
middle ear preganglionic parasympathetic and
postganglionic parasympathetic to
cavity parotid gland
foramen
ovale groove for lesser
petrosal n.
infratemporal
fossa joins otic
ganglion

15. V. Otic Ganglion
Postganglionic auriculotemporal
parasympathtic branch (CN V)
fibers
parotid
gland
CHARACTERISTICS OF CELL BODY: a collection of
nerve cell bodies; located in infratemporal fossa;
small stellate-shaped ganglion; located inferior to
foramen ovale, medial V₃

16. Parasympathetics of
Parotid Gland

18. I. Preganglionic Neuron
Preganglionic Inferior salivatory
parasympathetic nucleus in medulla
fibers
jugular glossopharyngeal
foramen N.
Glossopharyngeal tympanic
tympanic
n. branch of IX
plexus
otic ganglion lesser petrosal
nerve

19. NAME OF CELL BODY: inferior salivatory nucleus
CHAR. OF CELL BODY: a collection of nerve cell
bodies located in the medulla

20. II. Postganglionic Neuron
postganglionic otic
ganglion
parasympathetic
fibers
parotid gland auriculotemporal
branch (CN V)
NAME OF CELL BODY: otic ganglion
CHAR. OF CELL BODY: a collection of nerve cell
bodies; small stellate-shaped ganglion; located
inferior to foramen ovale, medial V₃