Temporal Fossa, Temporomandibular Joint, and Infratemporal Fossa - Laboratory Identifications

Abbreviations for this Identification List

• PTF = Pterygopalatine Fossa.
• IFTF = Infratemporal Fossa
• LSPN = Lesser Superficial Petrosal Nerve
• MCF = middle cranial fossa

Boundaries for Infratemporal Fossa - Skull Landmarks

1. anterior - posterior aspect of maxilla
2. posterior - styloid process
3. superior - infratemporal crest
4. inferior - body of mandible
5. medial - pterygoid plate (pterygo maxillary fissure)
6. lateral - ramus of mandible

Identifications

1. Zygomatic process temporal bone - forms suture with zygoma
2. Mastoid process - attachment of SCM, splenius capitus, longus capitus
3. External auditory meatus
4. Styloid process - site of origin for three mm having three different innervation, stylohyoid ligament
5. Petrotympanic fissure - medial to mandibular fossa, chorda tympani branch of facial
6. Lateral pterygoid plate - medial boundary of IFTF, site of attachment of two muscles of mastication
7. Maxilla - forms anterior boundary of IFTF
8. Zygoma - contributes to zygomatic arch
9. Hamulus of medial pterygoid plate - pulley for tendon of tensor veli palatini
10. Greater wing of sphenoid bone - part of roof of IFTF, pterion, foramen ovale, foramen spinosum
11. Inferior orbital fissure - transmits infraorbital a. (IFTF) and infraorbital n. (PTF)
12. Pterygomaxillary fissure - medial wall of IFTF, communication between IFTF and PTF
13. Pterygopalatine fossa - comunicates with IFTF, orbit, nasal cavity, oral cavity, nasopharynx, cavernous sinus (MCF), MCF
14. Foramen spinosum - middle meningeal a., sphenomandibular lig, LSPN, between MCF and IFTF
15. Foramen ovale - mandibular division of trigeminal n., emissary v. (pterygoid plexus to cavernous sinus), LSPN, between MCF and IFTF
16. Sphenopalatine foramen - medial wall of PTF, between PTF and nasal cavity, transmits terminal branches maxillary a, branchs of V2
17. External carotid artery - terminating in maxillary a. and superficial temporal a.
18. Superficial temporal artery - giving off transverse facial a., anterior to external auditory meatus, temporal fossa
19. Maxillary artery - posterior to neck of mandible
20. Deep auricular artery - branch off maxillary a. toward base of external auditory meatus
21. Inferior alveolar artery - branch of maxillary a., entering mandibular f.
22. Middle meningeal artery - branch of maxillary a., entering foramen spinosum, surrounded by split of auriculotemporal n.
23. Deep temporal arteries - deep to temporalis, temporal fossa, branches of maxillary in IFTF
24. Buccal artery - branch of maxillary a., crossing lateral surface of medial pterygoid
25. Posterior superior alveolar artery - entering foramen on posterior maxilla
26. Infraorbital artery - branch of maxillary a., entering inferior orbital fissure
27. Artery of maxillary nerve - branch of maxillary a., through foramen rotundum
28. Artery of pterygoid canal - branch of maxillary a., through pterygoid canal
29. Pharyngeal artery - branch of maxillary a. through palatovaginal canal
30. Greater and lesser palatine arteries - leaving floor of pterygopalatine fossa, at hard and soft palate
31. Lateral posterior nasal arteries - terminal branches of maxillary a., through sphenopalatine foramen, superior, middle, inferior
32. Mandibular nerve - at foramen ovale
33. Auriculotemperal nerve - anterior to external auditory meatus
34. Inferior alveolar nerve - entering IFTF from MCF, enters foramen on posterior maxilla
35. Lingual nerve - lateral surface of medial pterygoid muscle
36. Buccal nerve - lateral surface of medial pterygoid muscle, piercing the buccinator
37. Chorda tympani nerve (CN VII) - petrotympanic fissure, joinning with the lingual n., functional components
38. Maxillary nerve - roof of pterygopalatine fossa
39. Posterior superior alveolar nerve - entering infratemporal fossa from pterygopalatine fossa
40. Infraorbital nerve - continuation of maxillary n. into the orbit, inferior orbital fissure, roof of PTF
41. Mandibular Foramen - transmits inferior alveolar n. a., adjacent to lingula, dental anesthesia
42. Facial Nerve - entering parotid region from stylomastoid foramen
43. Communicating branch - parasympathetics, leaving auriculotemporal n. to join with branches of facial n.

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