Anatomical Regions: Infratemporal Fossa and Pterygopalatine Fossa

infratemporal fossa (ITF), pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) | does not include car drawings, sorry it just isn't super helpful for me

why should a dentist care about ITF and PPF?

ITF and PPF are related to the temporomandibular joint

infratemporal fossa (ITF)

irregularly shaped space deep and inferior to the zygomatic arch, deep to the ramus of the mandible, and posterior to the maxilla

it communicates with the temporal fossa through the interval between the zygomatic arch and cranial bones

what is the lateral border of the ITF?

ramus of mandible

what is the medial border of the ITF?

lateral pterygoid plate

what is the anterior border of the ITF?

posterior aspect of the maxilla

what is the posterior border of the ITF?

tympanic plate and the mastoid and styloid processes of the temporal bone

what is the superior border of the ITF?

inferior (infratemporal) surface of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone

what is the inferior border of the ITF?

where the medial pterygoid muscles attach to the mandible near its angle

what is the lateral access to the ITF and what passes through it?

mandibular foramen, inferior alveolar nerve

what is the medial access to the ITF and what passes through it?

pterygomaxillary fissure, maxillary artery

what is the anterior access to the ITF and what passes through it?

alveolar foramen, posterior superior alveolar nerve

what is the posterior access to the ITF and what passes through it?

no direct access

what is the superior access to the ITF and what passes through it?

foramen spinosum, middle meningeal artery

foramen ovale, V3

petrotympanic fissure, chorda tympani

what is the inferior access to the ITF and what passes through it?

no direct access

what does the infratemporal fossa contain?

inferior part of the temporalis muscle, lateral and medial pterygoid muscles, maxillary artery (first and second divisions), pterygoid venous plexus, mandibular nerve and its branches, chorda tympani from the facial nerve joins mandibular nerve, lesser petrosal from the glossopharyngeal nerve joins mandibular nerve, otic ganglion

pterygopalatine fossa (PPF)

inverted teardrop shaped space deep to the ITF

what is the lateral border of the PPF?

pterygomaxillary fissure

what is the anterior border of the PPF?

posterior surface of maxilla

what is the medial border of the PPF?

perpendicular plate of palatine bone (which forms part of lateral wall of nasal cavity)

what is the posterior border of the PPF?

pterygoid process of sphenoid bone

what is the superior border of the PPF?

portion of greater wing of sphenoid bone

what is the inferior border of the PPF?

pyramidal process of palatine bone

what does the PPF contain?

terminal (3rd or pterygopalatine) part of the maxillary artery and the initial parts of its branches, maxillary nerve and branches, nerve of the pterygoid canal, pterygopalatine ganglion

where is the pterygomaxillary fissure?

in the infratemporal fossa of the PPF (it is a gateway of the PPF, IDK why this is confusing me sm rn so make sure I’m not confusing you)

where is the sphenopalatine foramen?

in the palatine bone of the PPF, travels to the nasal cavity

where is the inferior orbital fissure?

between the sphenoid and maxilla of the PPF, travels to the orbit

where is the foramen rotundum?

in the sphenoid bone of the PPF, travels to the middle cranial fossa

where is the pterygoid (vidian) canal?

in the sphenoid bone of the PPF, travels to the middle cranial fossa

where is the pharyngeal canal?

in the sphenoid bone of the PPF, travels to the nasopharynx

where is the greater palatine canal?

in the palatine bone of the PPF, travels to the oral cavity

what structure is indicated by the red arrow, and what travels through it?

mandibular foramen, inferior alveolar nerve

what structure is labeled A, and what travels through it?

alveolar foramen, posterior superior alveolar nerve

what structure is labeled B, and what travels through it?

pterygomaxillary fissure, maxillary artery

what structure is labeled A, and what travels through it?

petrotympanic fissure, chorda tympani nerve

what structure is circled in blue, and what travels through it?

foramen spinosum, middle meningeal artery

what structure is circled in green, and what travels through it?

foramen ovale, V3

what structure is labeled A?

auriculotemporal nerve

what structure is labeled B?

petrotympanic fissure

what structure is labeled C?

chorda tympani nerve

what structure is labeled D?

inferior alveolar nerve

what structure is labeled E?

nerve to mylohyoid

what structure is labeled F?

lingual nerve

what structure is labeled G?

incisive nerve

what structure is labeled H?

mental nerve

what structure is labeled A?

chorda tympani nerve of VII

what structure is labeled B?

lesser petrosal nerve (IX)

what structure is labeled C?

otic ganglion (medial to V3)

what structure is labeled A?

maxilla

what structure is labeled B?

palatine bone

what structure is labeled C?

sphenoid bone

what structure is labeled D?

pterygopalatine fossa

what structure is labeled E?

zygomatic bone

what structure is labeled A?

perpendicular plate of palatine bone

what structure is labeled A?

V2

what structure is labeled B?

pterygoid canal

what structure is labeled C?

pterygopalatine ganglion

what structure is circled in yellow?

infratemporal fossa

what structure is circled in yellow?

pterygopalatine fossa

what structure is labeled A?

pharyngeal (palatovaginal) canal

what structure is labeled B?

pterygoid canal

what structure is labeled C?

foramen rotundum

what structure is labeled D?

greater palatine canal

what structure is labeled E?

sphenopalatine foramen

what structure is labeled F?

inferior orbital fissure