ANHB3324 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Auriculotemporal Nerve, Digastric Muscle, Mastication
3 Jun 2018
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LECTURE TEN: Infra-Temporal Fossa and the Mandibular Nerve
Boundaries of the Infra-Temporal Fossa:
• Lateral → internal ramus of mandible → includes mandibular foramen
• Medial → predominantly muscular wall of pharynx → also includes
medial pterygoid plate → where medial pterygoid muscle attaches
• Roof → undersurface of greater wing of sphenoid bone → where lateral
pterygoid muscle attaches
• Floor → level with lower border of ramus → medial pterygoid attachment
is critical here
• Anterior wall → back of maxilla and buccinator
• Posterior limit → styloid apparatus
Contents of the Infra-Temporal Fossa:
• Muscles
• Ligaments → manage movement of mandible
o TMJ capsule
o Spehno-mandibular → main ligament
o Stylo-mandibular
• Glands → parotid gland
• Nerves
o Mandibular nerve and all communications
o Chorda tympani and connections to lingual and submandibular
ganglion
o Lesser petrosal nerve and connections to otic ganglion
• Arteries → maxillary artery
o Major branch of external carotid artery
o Supplies
▪ ITF and all its contents
▪ Most of the meninges → middle meningeal artery
▪ All teeth and alveolar regions
▪ Upper/lower jaw
▪ Nasal cavity
▪ Palate
▪ Face
o Runs 2/3 up ITF and branches follow divisions of trigeminal nerve
o Enters through pterygo-maxillary fissure into pterygo-palatine
fossa
• Veins → pterygoid plexus which drains into jugular system
• Lymphatics → mostly upper deep cervical lymph nodes
Mandibular Nerve:
• Starts in middle cranial fossa → trigeminal ganglion → GSS → motor
piece separate
• Leaves cranial cavity via foramen ovale
• Branches → undivided trunk to
o Medial pterygoid muscle
o Tensor (veli) palati muscle
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