Temporal and Infratemporal

Fossae
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Infratemporal Fossa
Boundaries:
Anterior: posterior surface of the maxilla
Posterior: styloid process
Medial: lateral pterygoid plate of the sphenoid
Lateral: ramus and coronoid process of the
mandible
Roof: greater wing of the sphenoid
Infratemporal fossa contents

1. temporalis m.
2. Lateral and medial pterygoid muscle
3. pterygoid plexus
4. mandibular nerve
5. maxillary A.
6. chorda tympani
7. Otic ganglion
Temporal Fossa
Boundaries:
Anterior: zygomatic process of the frontal bone and
frontal process of the zygoma.
Posterior: temporal line
Superior: temporal line
Inferior: zygomatic arch
Floor: parts of the frontal,parietal, temporal,and
greater wing of the sphenoid.
Muscles of mastication
1. Medial pterygoid
Elevates and protracts the mandible
2. Lateral pterygoid
Depresses and protracts the mandible
3. Masseter
Elevates and retracts the mandible
4. Temporalis
Elevates and retracts the mandible
D. Nerves of the ITF
A. Mandibular division of the trigeminal
nerve
Exits through the foramen ovale.
Provides innervation to the lower teeth and lower part of the
face below the lower lip and mouth.
Branches:
1. Meningeal branch
2. Muscular branches
3. Buccal nerve
4. Auriculotemporal nerve
5. Lingual nerve
6. Inferior alveolar nerve

B. The otic ganglion
receives preganglionic PS fibers from the CN 9,
tympanic plexus, and lesser petrosal nerve.
Branches into auriculotemporal nerve innervating
the Parotid gland.
Freys syndrome(gustatory sweating):
Usually a complication of superficial
parotidectomy.
produces flushing and sweating instead of
salivation in response to taste of food resulting
from injury of the auriculo temporal nerve.
Blood vessels of the ITF
1. Maxillary artery.
2. Pterygoid venous plexus
3. Retromandibular vein
The Parotid gland
Largest salivary gland
Encased by the superficial layer of the deep
cervical fascia.
Separated from the submandibular gland by
the stylomandibular ligament.
Dumbbell shaped.
It contains predominantly serous secreting
acinar cells.

Boundaries:
Superiorly: Zygomatic arch
Anteriorly: Masseter
Posteriorly: SCM
Floor: Posterior belly of the Digastric muscle
Medially: styloid process
The Parotid(stensens)duct:
Arises from the anterior border of the gland as a
termination of various extraglandular ductules.
It traverses the masseter and located about
1.5cm below the zygoma.
It penetrates the buccinator muscle and empties
into the oral cavity opposite the upper 2
nd
molar.
Blood supply of the parotid
Supplied by the TRANVERSE FACIAL ARTERY
which is a branch of the ECA.
Venous drainage
The parotid gland empties via the
retromandibular vein and into the EJV.
It also drains via the Common facial vein and
eventually through the IJV.
Lymphatic drainage
Via the superficial and deep cervical systems.
Unlike other salivary glands, Lymph Nodes are
contained within the parenchyma of the
Parotid gland.
Facial nerve
It emerges from the stylomastoid foramen.
Before it enter the parotid gland, It gives
branches to the stylohyoid, postauricular and
posterior belly of the digastric muscles.
The parotid gland is separated into superficial
and deep lobes by the facial nerve.

The facial nerve divides at the pes anserinus
to form the:
Temporofacial branches
Cervicofacial branches
Temporofacial branches:
Temporal, Zygomatic and Buccal
branches
Cervicofacial branches:
Mandibular and cervical branches.
General characteristics:
The mandibular branch: exits the gland
distally and pass superficial to the facial vein.
The Buccal branch courses parallel to the
stensens duct.
The zygomatic branch crosse the zygoma
over the periosteum.
The temporal branch runs parallel and
superficial to the superficial temporal artery.
VI. Joints and ligaments of the
infratemporal region
1. Temporomandibular joint
2. Pterygomandibular raphae
3. Stylomandibular ligament
TMJ
It is a pressure bearing DOUBLE synovial joint
and constitutes a compound joint involving 3 or
more bones.
Components:
Squamous part of the temporal bone
Mandibular condyle
Articular capsule
Articular disc
Joint ligaments
Synovial membrane

Blood supply of the TMJ
Superficial temporal artery
Deep auricular and masseteric arteries from
the maxillary artery.
Venous drainage
Temporomandibular veins then via the
retromandibular vein.
Innervation
Motor: mandibular division of the CN V
Sensory: auriculotemporal, masseteric and
posterior deep temporal nerve.
Principle movements
The mandible:
A. Forward-backward movement.
B. Opening-closing movement.
C. lateral movement.
Next topic.
Skull and Cranial Cavity
I. Skull