17 - Temporal and infratemporal region

Question 1

What are the superior and posterior borders of the temporal fossa?

Answer 1

Superior (fascia) and inferior (muscle) temporal lines

Question 2

What is the anterior border of the temporal fossa?

Answer 2

Frontal process of the zygomatic bone and zygomatic process of frontal bone

Question 3

What is the inferior border of the temporal fossa?

Answer 3

Infratemporal crest, deep to zygomatic arch

Question 4

What is the floor of the temporal fossa?

Answer 4

Frontal, parietal, temporal and great wing of the sphenoid bone (including pterion)

Question 5

What is the lateral border of the infratemporal fossa?

Answer 5

Ramus of mandible

Question 6

What is the medial border of the infratemporal fossa?

Answer 6

Lateral ptyergoid plate of sphenoid bone

Question 7

What is the anterior border of the infratemporal fossa?

Answer 7

Posterior aspect of maxilla

Question 8

What is the posterior border of the infratemporal fossa?

Answer 8

Tympanic plate, mastoid and styloid processes

Question 9

What is the superior border of the infratemporal fossa?

Answer 9

Infratemporal crest of sphenoid bone

Question 10

What is the inferior border of the infratemporal fossa?

Answer 10

Angle of mandible (where medial pterygoid attaches)

Question 11

What is the temporal fossa?

Answer 11

Where the temporalis muscle lies

Question 12

What is the infratemporal fossa?

Answer 12

Area between the cranium and the zygomatic arch, many muscles and neurovascular structure communicate through here

Question 13

What muscles are found in the infratemporal fossa?

Answer 13

• inferior part of temporalis
• lateral ptyergoid
• medial pterygoid

Question 14

What vessels are found in the infratemporal fossa?

Answer 14

• maxillary artery
• pterygoid venous plexus

Question 15

What nerves are found in the infratemporal fossa?

Answer 15

• mandibular (CN V3)
• inferior alveolar
• lingual
• buccal
• chorda tympani
• otic ganglion

Question 16

Describe the relationship between the buccal nerves and the lateral pterygoid.

Answer 16

Buccal nerve emerges from between the heads of the lateral pterygoid

Question 17

What does the chorda tympani supply?

Answer 17

• branch of facial nerve
• carries special sensory fibres from the anterior 2/3 of the tongue

Question 18

What is the pterygomandibular space?

Answer 18

• clinical name for space between medial pterygoid and mandible
• filled with fatty tissue and pterygoid venous plexus
• area for IANB

Question 19

Where is the otic ganglion located?

Answer 19

• medial side of CN V3
• posterior to medial pterygoid

Question 20

What are the branches of CN V3?

Answer 20

• auriculotemporal
• inferior alveolar
• lingual
• buccal

Question 21

Describe the auriculotemporal nerve.

Answer 21

• sensory fibres to auricle, temporal tertian and TMJ
• parasympathetic secretomotor fibres to parotid gland
• forms plexus around middle meningeal artery

Question 22

Describe the inferior alveolar nerve.

Answer 22

• sensory fibres to mandibular teeth
• branch of mental nerve supplies sensory fibres to lower lip, chin and gingiva of mandibular incisors
• branch of nerve to mylohyoid supplies motor fibres to mylohyoid and anterior belly of digastric

Question 23

Describe the lingual nerve.

Answer 23

• sensory fibres to the anterior 2/3 of tongue, floor of mouth and lingual gingivae
• joined by chorda tympani in the infratemporal fossa

Question 24

What are the divisions of the maxillary artery?

Answer 24

• mandibular part
• pterygoid part
• pterygopalatine part

Question 25

Describe the mandibular part of the maxillary artery.

Answer 25

Medial to mandible, passes between the pterygoids

Question 26

Describe the pterygoid part of the maxillary artery.

Answer 26

Passes across lateral pterygoid, either superficially or deep

Question 27

Describe the pterygopalatine part of the maxillary artery.

Answer 27

Runs distally between 2 heads of lateral pterygoid, enters the pterygomandibular fissure to enter the pterygomandibular fossa

Question 28

What are the branches of note in the mandibular part of the maxillary artery?

Answer 28

• middle meningeal artery
• inferior alveolar artery

Question 29

What are the branches of note in the pterygoid part of the maxillary artery?

Answer 29

Buccal artery

Question 30

What are the branches of note in the pterygopalatine part of the maxillary artery?

Answer 30

• posterior superior alveolar artery
• infra-orbital artery
• descending palatine artery

Question 31

What is the pterygoid nexus plexus?

Answer 31

• venous plexus found in the infratemporal region
• majority of veins from maxillary artery drain into this plexus