Anatomy of Temporal and Infratemporal Fossa

 

TEMPORAL FOSSA:

Boundaries of temporal fossa:

Anterior border - zygomatic and frontal bone 

Posterior border - lambdoid suture and occipital bone

Superior - superior temporal line 

Inferior - zygomatic arch and external acoustic meatus 

Roof - temporal fascia 

Floor - cranial bones along with  temporalis muscle

 

CONTENTS :

Temporalis muscle 

zygomaticotemporal nerve 

Auriculotemporal nerve 

Deep temporal artery 

Deep temporal nerves 

INFRATEMPORAL FOSSA

BOUNDARIES:

  anterior border - posterior surface of maxilla and temporal fascia

Roof - greater wing of sphenoid 

Lateral wall - medial surface of ramus of mandible 

Medial wall - pterygoid plate and pyramidal process of palatine

Posterior border- stylomandibular ligament  and external acoustic meatus

LANDMARKS ININFRATEMPORAL FOSSA :

• Pterion 

• Zygomatic arch 

• Temporal line 

• Head of mandible

• Superior and inferior nuchal line

CONTENTS OF INFRATEMPORL FOSSA:

1. Deep temporal nerve 

2. Mandibular nerve (otic ganglion) 

3. Superior alveolar nerve 

4. Inferior alveolar nerve

5. Upper head of lateral pterygoid

6. Lower head  of lateral pterygoid muscle

7. Superficial head of medial pterygoid muscle 

8. Deep head of medial pterygoid muscle 

9. Buccal nerve 

10.Lingual nerve 

11.ptergoid venous plexus

Temporal fascia :

• Temporal fascia gives attachment to auricular muscles 

• It is a continuation of epicrania aponeurosis

• Origin to auricularis superior and anterior

• Related to superficial temporal vessels