AN33.1-5 | Temporal and Infratemporal regions — Glossary

Depression on the lateral skull bounded by the temporal lines, containing the temporalis muscle and deep temporal vessels and nerves

Irregularly shaped space deep to the mandibular ramus containing the muscles of mastication, maxillary artery, pterygoid venous plexus, and CN V3

H-shaped junction of frontal, parietal, temporal, and sphenoid bones; thinnest part of the skull overlying the middle meningeal artery

Branch of the maxillary artery entering the skull via the foramen spinosum; rupture from pterion fracture causes extradural haematoma

Blood collection between the skull and dura from middle meningeal artery rupture; presents with lucid interval followed by rapid deterioration

Bicondylar synovial joint between the mandibular condyle and temporal bone, lined with fibrocartilage and divided by an articular disc

Fibrocartilaginous biconcave disc dividing the TMJ into upper (gliding) and lower (hinge) compartments

Fan-shaped muscle of mastication from the temporal fossa to the coronoid process; anterior fibres elevate, posterior fibres retract the mandible

Powerful elevator of the mandible from the zygomatic arch to the angle and lateral surface of the mandibular ramus

The only muscle of mastication that opens the jaw (depresses) and protrudes the mandible; inserts into the mandibular neck and TMJ disc

Muscle of mastication from the lateral pterygoid plate to the medial surface of mandibular angle; elevates, protrudes, and aids lateral excursion

Dense venous network in the infratemporal fossa surrounding the pterygoid muscles; communicates with the cavernous sinus via emissary veins

Terminal branch of the external carotid artery; the dominant arterial supply of the infratemporal fossa and its deep structures

Third division of the trigeminal nerve; the only division with both sensory and motor components; motor supply to all muscles of mastication

Foramen in the greater wing of the sphenoid transmitting the mandibular nerve (CN V3) into the infratemporal fossa

Foramen in the greater wing of the sphenoid transmitting the middle meningeal artery into the middle cranial fossa

Parasympathetic ganglion in the infratemporal fossa below the foramen ovale relaying secretomotor fibres from CN IX to the parotid gland

Branch of CN VII carrying taste fibres from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and parasympathetic fibres to the submandibular ganglion

Displacement of the mandibular condyle anterior to the articular tubercle, causing inability to close the mouth; reduced by the Hippocratic manoeuvre

Emergency bedside technique to reduce a dislocated TMJ by pressing the mandible downward and backward to return the condyle to the fossa

Restricted jaw opening due to spasm of the muscles of mastication; seen in tetanus, peritonsillar abscess, and ITF tumours

The most common dental nerve block, delivered into the infratemporal fossa to anaesthetise the mandibular teeth via the inferior alveolar nerve (CN V3)