Infratemporal Fossa

Question 1

infratemporal fossa

Answer 1

an irregularly shaped space, inferior to the temporal bone and below the zygomatic arch; medial to the mandible

Question 2

contents of the infratemporal fossa

Answer 2

muscles of mastication (lateral and medial pterygoid muscles)
mandibular nerve V3 and its branches
otic ganglion
maxillary artery
pterygoid plexus of veins

Question 3

muscles of mastication

Answer 3

temporalis
masseter
lateral pterygoid
medial pterygoid

Question 4

temporalis attachments

Answer 4

superior attachment: parietal bone
inferior attachment: coronoid process of the mandible

Question 5

temporalis main function

Answer 5

elevates mandible (closes the mouth)
anterior fibers: elevate mandible
posterior fibers: retract mandible

Question 6

masseter attachments

Answer 6

superior: zygomatic arch
inferior: angle and ramus of the mandible

Question 7

masseter function

Answer 7

elevation of mandible (closing the mouth)

Question 8

medial pterygoid muscle attachments

Answer 8

superior: medial surface of the lateral pterygoid plate (of sphenoid bone)
inferior: angle of mandible (medial surface)

Question 9

medial pterygoid muscle function

Answer 9

elevation of mandible
protrusion of mandible
lateral chewing movements

Question 10

what fibers run in the same direction as masseter

Answer 10

medial pterygoid muscle fibers

Question 11

what muscle lies on the medial surface of mandible

Answer 11

medial pterygoid muscle

Question 12

what muscles lies on the lateral surface of mandible

Answer 12

masseter muscle

Question 13

sphenoid bone

Answer 13

greater wing with lateral and medial pterygoid plates

Question 14

lateral pterygoid muscle has how many heads

Answer 14

2

Question 15

lateral pterygoid muscle attachments

Answer 15

from the lateral surface of the lateral pterygoid plate to condylar neck, TMJ capsule and articular disc

Question 16

lateral pterygoid msucle function

Answer 16

protrusion of mandible
depression of mandible
lateral chewing movements (side-to-side movement)

Question 17

mandibular movements

Answer 17

elevation, depression, protrusion, retraction and lateral excursion

Question 18

what is the main force that depresses mandible

Answer 18

gravity

Question 19

temporomandibular joint

Answer 19

synovial joint formed by the condyle of mandible and the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone

Question 20

temporomandibular joint divided into compartments by the

Answer 20

articular disc

Question 21

compartments of the temporomandibular joint

Answer 21

superior compartment permits anterior and posterior movement
inferior compartment is a hinge joint, permits depression and elevation

Question 22

mandibular nerve

Answer 22

branch of CN V
mostly a sensory nerve, also has some motor fibers
passes through the foramen ovale to enter the infratemporal fossa

Question 23

mandibular nerve sensory branches

Answer 23

lingual nerve
inferior alveolar nerve
buccal nerve
auriculotemporal nerve

Question 24

motor branches of mandibular nerve

Answer 24

to muscles of mastication

Question 25

buccal nerve

Answer 25

carries general sensory information from:
skin on the cheek
buccal mucous membrane
buccal gingiva of the mandibular posterior teeth 2nd and 3rd molar

Question 26

lingual nerve

Answer 26

carries general sensory fibers from the anterior 2/3s of the tongue, floor of the mouth and mandibular gingiva

Question 27

what nerve exits middle ear and joins lingual nerve

Answer 27

chorda tympani nerve, a branch of the facial nerve

Question 28

chorda tympani carries

Answer 28

special sensory (taste) fibers from the anterior 2/3s of tongue and parasympathetic fibers, which synapse in the submandibular ganglion and then supply 2 salivary glands: submandibular and sublingual gland

Question 29

after chorda tympani joins lingual nerve, the lingual nerve carries

Answer 29

all 3 types of fibers
general sensory, special sensory of taste parasympathetic fibers

Question 30

inferior alveolar nerve carries

Answer 30

general sensory fibers from mandibular teeth and mandibular gingiva

Question 31

branches of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN)

Answer 31

nerve to mylohyoid muscle: branches off just before IAN enters mandibular foramen, motor nerve to mylohyoid muscle and anterior belly of digastric muscle
mental nerve: terminal branch of IAN, it exits through the mental foramen and carries general sensory information from the skin and mucosa of the lower lip and chin

Question 32

auriculotemporal nerve carries

Answer 32

general sensory fibers from: external ear and scalp of the temporal region, external auditory meatus and tympanic membrane, TMJ
also carries postganglionic parasympathetic nerve fibers to the parotid gland

Question 33

auriculotemporal nerve makes a loop around

Answer 33

middle meningeal artery

Question 34

the parasympathetic innervation of the parotid gland is from

Answer 34

glossopharyngeal nerve

Question 35

otic ganglion fibers

Answer 35

the preganglionic fibers from CN IX reach otic ganglion located next to the V3 nerve in the infratemporal fossa
they synapse in the otic ganglion, and postganglionic fibers join the auriculotemporal nerve, a branch of V3, which carries them to the parotid gland

Question 36

maxillary artery

Answer 36

main artery in the infratemporal fossa; branch of the external carotid artery
supplies blood to the deep part of face

Question 37

branches of the maxillary artery

Answer 37

middle meningeal artery
inferior alveolar artery

Question 38

pterygoid plexus of veins

Answer 38

located in the infratemporal fossa, around pterygoid muscles and maxillary artery
plexus protects maxillary artery from being compressed during mastication
plexus connects with facial and retromandibular veins