Located on the side of the head Extends from the superior temporal lines to the zygomatic arch. Communicates with the infratemporal fossa deep to the zygomatic arch. Contains a numbers of structures that include a muscle, nerves, blood vessels

1. Dr. NDAYISABA CORNEILLE
CEO of CHG
MBChB,DCM,BCSIT,CCNA
TEMPORAL & INFRATEMPORAL
FOSSA
Supported BY

2. Temporal fossa
• Located on the side of the head
• Extends from the superior temporal lines
to the zygomatic arch.
• Communicates with the infratemporal
fossa deep to the zygomatic arch.
• Contains a numbers of structures that
include a muscle, nerves, blood vessels

3. TEMPORAL FOSSA
BOUNDARIES:
• Anterior: Zygomatic process of
frontal bone + zygomatic bone
• Superior & Posterior: Temporal
lines
• Inferior: Zygomatic arch

4. TEMPORAL FOSSA
CONTENTS:
1. Temporalis muscle and fascia
2. Deep temporal nerve & vessels
3. Superficial temporal vessels
4. Auriculotemporal nerve

6. Zygomatic arch
• Separates the temporal and infratemporal
fossae
• Formed by the squamous part of the
temporal bone, the zygomatic bone and
the zygomatic process of the maxilla
• Crossed by the auriculotemporal nerve,
and the zygomatic branches of the facial
nerve.
• These can be injured in fractures of the
arch.

7. Temporalis muscle

8. TEMPORALIS
• ORIGIN: floor of temporal fossa & deep
surface of temporal fascia
• INSERTION: the tendon passes deep to
zygomatic arch to be inserted to all
coronoid process (except its lateral surface)
and ramus of the mandible
• NERVE SUPPLY: 2 deep temporal nerves
from anterior division of mandibular nerve
• ACTION:
1. Anterior and posterior fibers elevate the
mandible
2. Its posterior fibers retract the mandible

9. Temporal fascia
• Covers the temporalis muscle above the
zygomatic arch
• Attached above to the superior temporal
line and below to the upper margin of the
zygomatic arch.
• Deep surface is site of origin for temporalis
muscle.

10. • The superficial temporal vessels and
auriculotemporal nerve lie upon it
• It is perforated by the deep temporal artery
and vein

11. Deep temporal nerves
• Are two in number and arise from the
anterior division of mandibular nerve,
emerge from the upper border of lateral
pterygoid to enter the the deep surface of .
temporalis muscle.
• Accompanied by deep temporal arteries,
branches of the maxillary artery

12. Auriculotemporal nerve
• Arises from the post root of trigerminal by 2
roots encircling middle meningeal artery
• Runs backward, deep to neck of mandible,
behind TMJ
• Moves upwards, crossing root of zygomatic
arch between the auricle and the superficial
temporal artery
• Gives sensory branches to skin of auricle,
external auditory meatus, TMJ & parotid
gland
• Carries postganglionic parasympathetic
secretomotor fibers from otic ganglion to
parotid gland

14. Superficial temporal artery
• A smaller terminal branch of the external
carotid in the parotid gland.
• Emerges from the upper part of the parotid
gland behind the TMJ
• Crosses root of zygomatic arch infront of
the auricle and the auriculotemporal nerve.
• Ascends onto the scalp and divides into
ant and post divisions.
• Supplies the lateral aspect of the scalp.

15. Infra temporal fossa
• Lies deep to the base of the skull.
• Located between the ascending ramus of
the mandible and the side wall of the
pharynx
• Contains the two pterygoid muscles, the
otic ganglion, the mandibular nerve, the
chorda tympani, the pterygoid venous
plexus and the maxillary artery

16. INFRATEMPORAL FOSSA
BOUNDARIES:
• Superficial (lateral): Ramus of mandible
• Deep (medial): Lateral pterygoid plate
• Superior: Infratemporal surface of
greater wing of sphenoid
• Anterior: Tuberosity (posterior wall) of
maxilla
• Posteriorly: styloid apparatus and
carotid sheath

17. • It has no anatomical floor and is continous
with the tissue spaces of the neck
alongside the pharynx and esophagus.
• Contnues thro the posterior and inferior
mediastinum

20. INFRATEMPORAL FOSSA
COMMUNICATIONS:
1. With temporal fossa: through a gap
deep to zygomatic arch
2. With cranial cavity: through foramen
ovale, foramen spinosum, foramen
lacerum
3. With orbit: through inferior orbital
fissure
4. With pterygopalatine fossa: through
pterygomaxillary fissure

21. INFRATEMPORAL FOSSA
CONTENTS:
1. Lateral & medial pterygoid muscles
2. Mandibular nerve & its branches
3. A part of maxillary nerve & 2 of its
branches
4. Otic ganglion
5. Chorda tympani
6. Pterygoid plexus of veins

22. MUSCLES OF MASTICATION
1. TEMPORALIS
2. MASSETER
3. LATERAL PTERYGOID
4. MEDIAL PTERYGOID
• They are derived from mesoderm of 1st
branchial arch
• They originate from temporal or
infratemporal fossa
• They are inserted into ramus of mandible
• They are supplied, through their deep
surfaces by branches of mandibular nerve
• They act on temporomandibular joint

23. MUSCLES OF MASTICATION

24. MUSCLES OF MASTICATION

25. LATERAL PTERYGOID
• ORIGIN:
1. Upper head: infratemporal surface of greater wing
of sphenoid
2. Lower head: lateral surface of lateral pterygoid
plate
• INSERTION: pterygoid fovea (in front of neck of
mandible) + capsule & articular disc of TMJ
• NERVE SUPPLY: from anterior division of
mandibular nerve
• ACTION:
1. Pulls the condylar process forward to depress the
mandible
2. Protrusion of mandible (when muscles on both
sides act together)
3. Side-to-side movement (when muscles on both
sides act alternatively)

26. MEDIAL PTERYGOID
• ORIGIN:
1. Superficial head: tuberosity of maxilla
2. Deep head: medial surface of lateral pterygoid
plate
• INSERTION: medial surface of ramus & angle of
mandible
• NERVE SUPPLY: from trunk of mandibular nerve
• ACTION:
1. Elevation of mandible
2. Protrusion of mandible (when muscles on both
sides act together)
3. Side-to-side movement (when muscles on both
sides act alternatively)

27. ALL MUSCLES OF
MASTICATION
Elevate mandible EXCEPT
• Lateral pterygoid
Protrude mandible EXCEPT
• Temporalis
Are supplied by anterior division of
mandibular nerve EXCEPT
• Medial pterygoid

28. MANDIBULAR NERVE

29. INFRATEMPORAL FOSSA

30. Mandibular nerve

31. MANDIBULAR NERVE
• COMPOSITION:
• Formed of 2 roots: motor &
sensory
• ORIGIN:
• Sensory root: peripheral processes
of cells of trigeminal ganglion in
the middle cranial fossa
• Motor root: axons of cells of motor
nucleus of trigeminal nerve in pons

32. MANDIBULAR NERVE
• COURSE:
• Both roots emerge separately
through foramen ovale to
infratemporal fossa
• The 2 roots unite, below foramen
ovale
• The nerve soon divides into a
small anterior & a large posterior
division

33. MANDIBULAR NERVE
• RELATIONS:
1. Superficial: lateral pterygoid
2. Deep: otic ganglion separated from it
by tensor veli palatini muscle
3. Posterior: middle meningeal artery

34. BRANCHES FROM TRUNK
OF MANDIBULAR NERVE
• One motor: Nerve to medial
pterygoid: supplies medial
pterygoid & gives off 2 branches
that pass through otic ganglion
(without relay) & supply tensor
palati & tensor tympani muscles
• One sensory: meningeal branch
(nervus spinosus) passing through
foramen spinosum to supply
meninges of middle cranial fossa

35. BRANCHES FROM ANTERIOR
DIVISION OF MANDIBULAR NERVE
Four branches
Three motor:
• Masseteric nerve: emerges through upper
border of lateral pterygoid & turns along
mandibular notch to reach masseter
• Deep temporal nerves: emerge through
upper border of lateral pterygoid
• Nerve to lateral pterygoid
One sensory:
• Buccal nerve: emerges between the 2 heads
of lateral pterygoid, supplies skin & mucous
membrane overlying buccinator

36. BRANCHES FROM POSTERIOR
DIVISION OF MANDIBULAR NERVE
Four branches
Three sensory:
Auriculotemporal nerve:
• Arises by 2 roots encircling middle
meningeal artery
• Runs backward, deep to neck of
mandible
• Gives sensory branches to skin of
auricle, temple, TMJ & parotid gland
• Carries postganglionic
parasympathetic secretomotor fibers
from otic ganglion to parotid gland

37. BRANCHES FROM POSTERIOR
DIVISION OF MANDIBULAR NERVE
Lingual nerve:
• Emerges through lower border of lateral
pterygoid then superficial to medial
pterygoid
• Joins chorda tympani
• Runs just below 3rd molar tooth (dangerous
position because it is only covered by
muscous membrane)
• Runs superficial to hyoglossus & is
connected to submandibular ganglion by 2
roots
• Carries general sensations from anterior 2/3
of tongue

38. BRANCHES FROM POSTERIOR
DIVISION OF MANDIBULAR NERVE
Inferior alveolar nerve:
• Emerges through lower border of
lateral pterygoid then superficial to
medial pterygoid, behind lingual nerve
• Passes through mandibular foramen &
canal to supply lower teeth
• Emerges through mental foramen as
mental nerve supplying skin of lower
lip & chin

39. BRANCHES FROM POSTERIOR
DIVISION OF MANDIBULAR NERVE
One motor:
Mylohyoid nerve:
• A branch of inferior alveolar nerve just above
mandibular foramen, pierces
sphenomandibular ligament, runs on the
mandible above insertion of medial
pterygoid.
• Passes in mylohyoid groove of mandible
• Supplies mylohyoid & anterior belly of
digastric muscles

41. RELATIONS OF LATERAL
PTERYGOID

42. RELATIONS OF LATERAL
PTERYGOID
• Superficial: temporalis, masseter, ramus of
mandible, maxillary artery, buccal nerve
• Deep: medial pterygoid, mandibular nerve,
middle meningeal artery, otic ganglion
• Emerging through its upper border: deep
temporal & masseteric nerves
• Emerging through its lower border: lingual &
inferior alveolar nerves + maxillary artery
• Emerging between its 2 heads: buccal nerve,
maxillary artery

43. Otic ganglion
• A small parasympathetic ganglion, anatomically
associated with the trigerminal nerve but
functionally associated with the
glossopharyngeal nerve
• Located just below foramen ovale, medial to the
mundibular nerve and lateral to tensor veli
palatini, fixed to the nerve to medial pterygoid
• Preganglionic fibers from inferior salivatory
nucleus carried by lesser petrosal nerve
• Post ganglionic fibers reach parotid gland via
auriculotemporal nerve

44. Pterygoid venous plexus
• A venous plexus associated with the
pterygoid muscles
• Receives veins that correspond to
branches of the maxillary artery
• Its posterior end is drained by the
maxillary vein
• Communicates with the facial vein through
the deep facial vein.

45. Chorda tympani
• A branch of the facial nerve in the
temporal bone.
• Enters temporal fossa through the
pterygotympanic fissure, runs downwards
and forwards to join the lingual nerve
• Carries parasymapathetics to the
sublingual and submandibular salivary
glands
• Carries taste fibers to ant 2/3 of the
tongue.

46. END
DR NDAYISABA CORNEILLE
THANKS FOR LISTENING
By
DR NDAYISABA CORNEILLE
MBChB,DCM,BCSIT,CCNA
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7/17/2023