Infra temporal fossa

1. Dr.Anitha NancyT,Asst. professor, Department ofAnatomy

2. Infratemporal fossa
 Location
 Boundaries
 Contents
 Maxillary artery & its branches

3. Boundaries:
Lateral=Ramus of Mandible
Anterior=Maxilla
Medial=Lat. Pterygoid Plate
Roof=Sphenoid
Temporal
Maxilla
Parietal
Sphenoid
Frontal
Z
Lat. Pterygoid Plate
Pterygomaxillary Fissure
Infratemporal Fossa
Temporal Fossa

4. Infratemporal
Fossa

5.  Anterior:
Maxilla.
 Superior:
Greater wing of sphenoid.
 Medial:
Lateral pterygoid plate.
 Lateral:
Coronoid process and ramus of mandible.

6.  Inferior:
Continuous with neck.
 Posterior:
TMJ and styloid process.

7. COMMUNICATIONS:
1. With temporal fossa: through a gap deep
to zygomatic arch
2. With cranial cavity: through foramen
ovale, foramen spinosum, foramen
lacerum
3. With orbit: through inferior orbital fissure
4. With pterygopalatine fossa: through
pterygomaxillary fissure

9.  Mandibular nerve.
 Maxillary artery.
 Pterygoid plexus of vein
 Medial and lateral pterygoid muscles.
 Lower part of temporalis muscle.
 Chorda tympani nerve.
 Otic ganglion.

10. Temporalis
Masseter
Medial PterygoidBuccinator*
Lateral Pterygoid

11. Elevate mandible EXCEPT
 Lateral pterygoid
Protrude mandible EXCEPT
 Temporalis
Are supplied by anterior division of
mandibular nerve EXCEPT
 Medial pterygoid

12. Inferior alveolar n.
Lingual n.
Facial n..
Submandibular ganglion.
Otic ganglion.
Lesser petrosal n.
Chorda tympani
Auriculotemporal n.

13. Ext. Cartotid
Inf. AlveolarPost. Sup. Alveolar
Maxillary
Post. DeepTemporal
Ant. DeepTemporal
Infra-orbital
Ext. Cartotid
Post. Deep Temporal
Ant. DeepTemporal
Middle
Meningeal
Septal brr.
Descending palatine
Greater palatine Lesser palatine
Sphenopalatine
V3

14.  Terminal branch of external carotid artery.
 Divided into 3 parts by lateral pterygoid
muscle:
Artery may pass superficial or deep to
muscle.

15.  First part:
Origin to lower margin inferior to lateral
pterygoid.
 Second part:
Superficial or deep to inferior
lateral pterygoid.
 Third part:
Lies within pterygopalatine fossa.

17. Deep auricular:
Lies within
parotid gland.
Supplies TMJ,
ext. aud.
Meatus, outer
surface of ear
drum.

18. Anterior
tympanic:
Arises within
parotid gland.
Supplies
tympanic cavity
and inner
surface of ear
drum.

19. Middle
meningeal:
Enters cranial
cavity via
foramen
spinosum.
Supplies skull
and dura mater.

20. Accessory
meningeal:
Enters cranial
cavity via
foramen ovale.
Supplies
semilunar
ganglion (CN V)
and dura mater.

21. Inferior alveolar:
Enters mandibular
foramen.
Supplies lower
teeth and gums.
Passes through
mental foramen
and
becomes
mental artery.

23. Branches to
muscles of
mastication.
Buccal artery.

24. Posterior superior
alveolar:
Runs with superior
alveolar nerve (CN
V-2).
Supplies upper
molars and
premolars.

25. Infraorbital:
Enters orbit via
inferior orbital
fissure.
Runs with
infraorbital nerve.
Supplies lower
eyelid, side of
nose, upper lip, oral
mucosa.
Gives rise to
anterior and middle
superior alveolar
arteries.

26. Descending palatine:
To soft and hard
palates.
Terminal branch.
Artery of pterygoid
canal:
To pharynx and
auditory tube.