What are the boundaries of the infratemporal fossa?

The infratemporal fossa is bounded by six key structures: Roof: Infratemporal surface of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone. Medial wall: Lateral surface of the lateral pterygoid plate. Lateral wall: Ramus of the mandible. Anterior wall: Infratemporal surface of the maxilla. Posterior wall: Styloid process of the temporal bone. Floor: Open to the neck.

What structures communicate with the infratemporal fossa?

The infratemporal fossa connects to several adjacent anatomical spaces: Temporal fossa through a gap deep to the zygomatic arch, middle cranial fossa via the foramen ovale and foramen spinosum, pterygopalatine fossa through the pterygomaxillary fissure, orbit through the inferior orbital fissure, and neck spaces continuous below with the lateral pharyngeal space.

What are the main contents of the infratemporal fossa?

The infratemporal fossa contains three primary groups of structures: Muscles like the lateral and medial pterygoids and tendon of temporalis, vessels such as the maxillary artery and vein and pterygoid venous plexus, and nerves including the mandibular nerve and branches, chorda tympani, and otic ganglion.

What is the function of the lateral pterygoid muscle?

The lateral pterygoid muscle is unique among masticatory muscles as it is the only one that opens the mouth. It has two heads that insert into the mandibular neck and temporomandibular joint disc/capsule.

What are the branches of the mandibular nerve in the infratemporal fossa?

The mandibular nerve divides into an anterior division that is mostly motor with the sensory buccal nerve, and a posterior division that is mostly sensory, including the auriculotemporal, lingual, and inferior alveolar nerves.

What is the clinical significance of the pterygoid venous plexus?

The pterygoid venous plexus acts as a venous pump and communicates with the facial vein and cavernous sinus, creating a potential route for the spread of infections from the face to intracranial structures.

How does the chorda tympani nerve function in the infratemporal fossa?

The chorda tympani, a branch of the facial nerve, joins the lingual nerve to carry taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and secretomotor fibers to the submandibular and sublingual glands via the submandibular ganglion.

Infratemporal Fossa – Boundaries, Contents & Nerves

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