The Temporal

Fossa
Dr. Abdalla Elamin Abdalla
B. Sc, M.Sc , MBBS
 Face & Scalp : revision
 A 12-year-old boy fell from a tree and
suffred injury on the forehead near the
hairline on the right side.
 Since there was severe bleeding the boy
was rushed to the casualty, where the
wound was sutured to control bleeding.
 After third day, the boy was brought back
to the hospital because his both eyes were
black.

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 Face & Scalp : revision
 Explain with the help of a diagram the
communication between the upper eyelids
and the scalp.
 Which layer of scalp contains nerves and
blood vessels?
 Why do scalp wound bleed profusely?
 Which vessels pass through the
subaponeurotic layer of scalp and what is
their clinical importance?

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 The temporal fossa
 Is a narrow fan-shaped space that
covers the lateral surface of the skull
.

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 Temporal Fossa: boundaries
 The temporal lines above
 The zygomatic arch below.

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 The temporal fossa: contents
◼ The temporalis muscle.
◼ Zygomaticotemporal branches of the
maxillary nerve [V2].

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 Nerves and arteries

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The Infratemporal
Fossa
 Infratemporal fossa

➢ Boundaries
➢ Contents
➢ Mandibular Nerve
➢ Otic Ganglion

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 Infratemporal fossa
 Beneath the base of the skull between the
side wall of the pharynx and the ramus of the
mandible

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 Borders of the infratemporal
fossa

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 Major contents of the
infratemporal fossa
 The sphenomandibular ligament,
 Medial and lateral pterygoid muscles
 The maxillary artery,
 The mandibular nerve [V3],
 Branches of the facial nerve [VII], and the
glossopharyngeal nerve [IX], and
 The pterygoid plexus of veins.

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 Medial pterygoid muscle

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 Lateral pterygoid muscle

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 Mandibular nerve [V3]

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 Mandibular nerve [V3]

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 Mandibular nerve [V3]

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 Maxillary artery

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 Branches of maxillary artery

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 Pterygoid Venous Plexus
 Lies on the lateral
surface of the medial
pterygoid muscle.
 Communicates with
the cavernous
sinus,the inferior
ophthalmic vein,
and the facial vein.
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 Pterygoid plexus of veins

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 Muscles of mastication

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The
tempromandibular
joint (TMJ)
 The tempromandibular joint
 Is a combined gliding and hinge type
of the synovial joint, has two
(superior and inferior) synovial
cavities divided by an articular disk,
which is a dense fibrous tissue.
 Its articular surfaces of the bones are
covered by fibrocartilage.

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 TMJ : Mouth closed

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 TMJ: Mouth open

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 Movements of TMJ

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 Nerve Supply
 Auriculotemporal and masseteric
branches of the mandibular nerve

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 Ligaments associated with TMJ

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 Dislocation of TMJ
 Excessive contraction of the lateral pterygoids
may cause the heads of the mandibles to
dislocate anteriorly, by passing anterior to the
articular tubercles

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 A Take-home message

 TMJ disorders are often seen in people who

habitually chew gum or grind or clench their
teeth.
 Patients are advised to avoid activities that
cause jaw fatigue and to follow a soft diet.

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 TBL

Pterygopalatine fossa:
◼ Location

◼ Boundaries

◼ Connections

◼ Contents

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 Questions

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 ‫امحلد ِهلل ِ‬
‫رب العلاَم ِن‬ ‫ُ‬