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The Infratemporal Fossa

The infratemporal fossa is a complex area located deep to the masseter muscle and zygomatic arch at the base of the skull. It acts as a conduit for neurovascular structures between the cranial cavity, temporal fossa, and pterygopalatine fossa. The infratemporal fossa contains branches of the trigeminal nerve, muscles of mastication, and vasculature including the maxillary artery and vein.

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96 views4 pages

The Infratemporal Fossa

The infratemporal fossa is a complex area located deep to the masseter muscle and zygomatic arch at the base of the skull. It acts as a conduit for neurovascular structures between the cranial cavity, temporal fossa, and pterygopalatine fossa. The infratemporal fossa contains branches of the trigeminal nerve, muscles of mastication, and vasculature including the maxillary artery and vein.

Uploaded by

Arshad hussain
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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[M-MURSLEEN] September 21, 2022

THE INFRATEMPORAL FOSSA

The infratemporal fossa is a complex area located at the base of the skull, deep to
the masseter muscle.

It is closely associated with both the temporal and pterygopalatine fossae and
acts as a conduit for neurovascular structures entering and leaving the cranial
cavity.

Borders
The infratemporal fossa can be said to have a wedge shape. It is located deep to
the masseter muscle and zygomatic arch (to which the masseter attaches). The
fossa is closely associated with both the pterygopalatine fossa, via the
pterygomaxillary fissure, and also communicates with the temporal fossa, which
lies superiorly (figure 1.0).

The boundaries of this complex structure consists of both bone and muscle:

 Lateral – condylar process and ramus of the mandible bone


 Medial – lateral pterygoid plate; tensor veli palatine, levator veli palatine and
superior constrictor muscles
 Anterior – posterior border of the maxillary sinus
 Posterior – carotid sheath
 Roof – greater wing of the sphenoid bone
 Floor – medial pterygoid muscle

The roof of the infratemporal fossa, formed by the greater wing of the sphenoid
bone, provides an important passage for the neurovascular structures transmitted
through the foramen ovale and spinosum. Among these are the mandibular
branch of the trigeminal nerve and the middle meningeal artery.
[M-MURSLEEN] September 21, 2022

The bony features of the infratemporal fossa. The ramus of the


mandible has been removed in this image

Contents
The infratemporal fossa acts as a pathway for neurovascular structures passing to
and from the cranial cavity, pterygopalatine fossa and temporal fossa. It also
contains some of the muscles of mastication. In fact, the lateral pterygoid splits
the fossa contents in half – the branches of the mandibular nerve lay deep to the
muscle, while the maxillary artery is superficial to it.

Muscles
The infratemporal fossa is associated with the muscles of mastication.
The medial and lateral pterygoids are located within the fossa itself, whilst the
masseter and temporalis muscles insert and originate into the borders of the
fossa.
[M-MURSLEEN] September 21, 2022

The medial and lateral pterygoids

Nerves
The infratemporal fossa forms an important passage for a number of nerves
originating in the cranial cavity (figure 1.2):

 Mandibular nerve – a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V). It enters the fossa
via the foramen ovale, giving rise to motor and sensory branches. The sensory
branches continue inferiorly to provide innervation to some of the cutaneous
structures of the face.

 Auriculotemporal, buccal, lingual and inferior alveolar nerves – sensory branches


of the trigeminal nerve.

 Chorda tympani – a branch of the facial nerve (CN VII). It follows the anatomical
course of the lingual nerve and provides taste innervation to the anterior 2/3 of
the tongue.
[M-MURSLEEN] September 21, 2022

 Otic ganglion – a parasympathetic collection of neurone cell bodies. Nerve fibres


leaving this ganglion ‘hitchhike’ along the auriculotemporal nerve to reach the
parotid gland.

Some of the contents of the infratemporal fossa.

Vasculature
The infratemporal fossa contains several vascular structures:

 Maxillary artery – the terminal branch of the external carotid artery. It travels
through the infratemporal fossa.
o Within the fossa, it gives rise to the middle meningeal artery, which passes
through the superior border via the foramen spinosum.
 Pterygoid venous plexus – drains the eye and is directly connected to the
cavernous sinus.
o It provides a potential route by which infections of the face can spread
intracranially.
 Maxillary vein
 Middle meningeal vein

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