Corpus: Infratemporal fossa

The infratemporal fossa is an irregularly shaped fossa of the base of the skull that lies inferomedial to the zygomatic arch and medial to the mandibular ramus.

Limitations[Bearbeiten]

The infratemporal fossa lies caudal to the temporal fossa and is bounded by the following anatomical structures:

• ventral: corpus maxillae (tuber maxillae, infratemporal surface)
• dorsal: from the articular tubercle of the temporal bone and the angular spine of the sphenoid bone
• cranial: from the underside of the greater sphenoidal wing (ala major ossis sphenoidalis) and from the caudal surface of the pars squamosa of the temporal bone.
• caudal: open downwards
• medial: from the posterolateral surface of the maxilla (facies infratemporalis maxillae) and from the lamina lateralis of the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone.
• lateral: from the arcus zygomaticus and ramus mandibulae

Contents[Bearbeiten]

The infratemporal fossa contains the following structures:

• the Mm. pterygoidei medialis and lateralis,
• the Pars pterygoidea of the maxillary artery and its middle group of branches (intermuscular branches),
• the pterygoid venous plexus with tributaries,
• the division of the mandibular nerve and
• the otic ganglion.

Connections[Bearbeiten]

The infratemporal fossa has connections to the following structures:

• to the temporal fossa (superior)
• to the middle cranial fossa via the foramen ovale, the foramen lacerum and the foramen spinosum
• to the pterygopalatine fossa via the pterygomaxillary fissure

• 3D model brachial plexus - anatomical situs; Dr Claudia Krebs (Faculty Lead) University of British Columbia