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GROSS ANATOMY OF TEMPORAL AND INFRA TEMPORAL FOSSA

DR FAUZIA SIRAJ

WMC WAH CANTT

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LEARNING OUTCOMES:�

  • IDENTIFY THE LOCATION, BOUNDARIES, CONTENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS OF TEMPORAL AND INFRATEMPORAL FOSSA ON A GIVEN MODEL AND SKULL.
  • DESCRIBE THE COURSE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MANDIBULAR NERVES FROM ORIGIN TO DISTRIBUTION.
  • TABULATE THE ATTACHMENTS, ACTIONS AND NERVE SUPPLY OF MUSCLES OF MASTICATION.
  • TRACE LOCATION, VARIOUS ROUTES AND DISTRIBUTION OF OTIC GANGLION
  • JUSTIFY THE ROLE OF LATERAL PTERYGOID AS A PERIPHERAL HEART ON THE ANATOMICAL BASIS OF PTERYGOID VENOUS PLEXUS
  • ELUCIDATE IMPORTANCE OF PTERYGOID VENOUS PLEXUS IN CASE OF INTRACRANIAL SPREAD OF INFECTION TO CAVERNOUS SINUS.
  • TRACE ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION OF SUPERFICIAL TEMPORAL, FIRST AND SECOND PARTS OF MAXILLARY ARTERY
  • TRACE ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION OF CHORDA TYMPANI FROM ORIGIN TILL IT JOINS THE LINGUAL NERVE.

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Level of division = zygomatic arch

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MUSCLES OF MASTICATION

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Already covrd

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INFRATEMPORAL FOSSA�

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

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�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.

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COMMUNICATION

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THE ROOF OF THE INFRATEMPORAL FOSSA/COMMUNICATION

  • 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.

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PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA

  •  IS A BILATERAL, CONE-SHAPED DEPRESSION EXTENDING DEEP FROM THE INFRATEMPORAL FOSSA ALL THE WAY TO THE NASAL CAVITY VIA THE SPHENOPALATINE FORAMEN.
  • IT IS LOCATED BETWEEN THE MAXILLA, SPHENOID AND PALATINE BONES, AND COMMUNICATES WITH OTHER REGIONS OF THE SKULL AND FACIAL SKELETON VIA SEVERAL CANALS AND FORAMINA.

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PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA

 Left infratemoporal fossa demonstrating the opening of the pterygopalatine fossa (circled in red). Note: the zygomatic arch has been removed in this image.

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BORDERS�

  • THE BORDERS OF THE PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA ARE FORMED BY THE PALATINE, MAXILLA AND SPHENOID BONES:
  • ANTERIOR: POSTERIOR WALL OF THE MAXILLARY SINUS.
  • POSTERIOR: PTERYGOID PROCESS OF THE SPHENOID BONE.
  • INFERIOR: PALATINE BONE AND PALATINE CANALS.
  • SUPERIOR: INFERIOR ORBITAL FISSURE OF THE EYE.
  • MEDIAL: PERPENDICULAR PLATE OF THE PALATINE BONE
  • LATERAL: PTERYGOMAXILLARY FISSURE

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CONTENTS�

  • THE PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA CONTAINS MANY IMPORTANT NEUROVASCULAR STRUCTURES.
  • HERE WE WILL DISCUSS THE MAXILLARY NERVE AND ITS BRANCHES,
  • THE PTERYGOPALATINE GANGLION
  • AND THE MAXILLARY ARTERY AND ITS BRANCHES.

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GATEWAYS

  • THE PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA SERVES AS A GATEWAY FOR SEVEN OPENINGS THAT COMMUNICATE WITH;
  • THE ORBIT,
  • THE NASAL CAVITY,
  • THE ORAL CAVITY,
  • THE MIDDLE CRANIAL FOSSA,
  • AND THE INFRATEMPORAL FOSSA.
  • THESE OPENINGS TRANSMIT BRANCHES OF THE MAXILLARY NERVE (V2), THE PTERYGOPALATINE GANGLION, AND THE MAXILLARY VESSELS. THE SEVEN OPENINGS ARE THE:

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7 OPENINGS ARE;

  • PTERYGOMAXILLARY FISSURE
  • FORAMEN ROTUNDUM
  • PTERYGOID CANAL
  • PALATOVAGINAL CANAL
  • INFERIOR ORBITAL FISSURE
  • PALATINE CANAL
  • SPHENOPALATINE FORAMEN

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PTERYGOMAXILLARY FISSURE�

  • IS LOCATED BETWEEN THE ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR WALL OF THE PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA.
  • IT COMMUNICATES WITH THE INFRATEMPORAL FOSSA AND TRANSMITS THE
  •  POSTERIOR SUPERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE
  •  AND THE MAXILLARY ARTERY.

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