The boundaries of the infratemporal fossa

1. Moore, Keith L & Dalley, Arthur (2006). Clinically oriented anatomy (5th ed.), Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins.

Superior boundary (wall/roof): Infratemporal surface of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone
Anterior boundary (wall): The posterior, infratemporal surface of the body of the maxilla and the
adjacent anterior tissues of the pterygomandibular space (including the pterygomandibular raphe)
Posterior boundary (wall): The styloid process and diaphragm (including the styloid musculature and
related fascia) and the carotid sheath
Lateral wall: Ramus and coronoid process of the mandible
Medial boundary (wall): The lateral lamina (lateral pterygoid plate) of the pterygoid process of the
sphenoid bone.
Inferior boundary: Open communication with cervical tissue spaces
Contents of the infratemporal fossa
Muscles
Lower part of the Temporalis and masseter muscles (origin of massetar muscle:lower margin of the
inner surface of zygomatic bone insertion : outer surface of the ramus of the mandible )
Lateral and medial pterygoid muscles
Vessels
The internal maxillary vessels, consisting of the maxillary artery originating from the external carotid
artery and its branches.
MAXILLARY ARTERY
The larger of the 2 terminal branches of the external carotid a. (supercial temporal a.)
Arises posterior to the condylar neck of the mandible within the parotid gland
Exits the parotid gland and passes anteriorly between the ramus of the mandible and the
sphenomandibular lig. within the infratemporal fossa
Takes a course that is either supercial or deep to the lateral pterygoid until reaching the
pterygopalatine fossa via the pterygomaxillary ssure
Supplies the deep structures of the face and may be divided into 3 parts as it passes medially
through the infratemporal fossa:
1. 1st partmandibular part
2. 2nd partpterygoid part
3. 3rd partpterygopalatine part



Veins
pterygoid venous plexus
Nerves
Mandibular nerve, inferior alveolar nerve, lingual nerve, buccal nerve, chorda tympani nerve, and
otic ganglion.
Mandibular nerve
Mandibular nerve which is the third branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V3), also known as the
"inferior maxillary nerve", enters infratemporal fossa from middle cranial fossa through foramen
ovale.
Motor branches:
masseteric nerve
deep temporal nerve
lateral pterygoid nerve and medial pterygoid nerve
Its motor fibers innervate all the muscles of mastication plus the mylohyoid, anterior belly of the
digastric, and the tensores veli palati and tympani
Sensory innervation:
meningeal nerve
buccal nerve
auriculotemporal nerve
lingual nerve
inferior alveolar nerve
auricle
external acoustic meatus
tympanic membrane
temporal region
cheek
skin overlying the mandible (except at the angle of the mandible)
floor of mouth
lower teeth
gingiva