UNIT 11 TMJ RELATED FOSSA

Temporal fossa

-Shallow depression on the side of the skull

-Communicates with the infratemporal fossa inferior to the zygomatic arch

(ZYGOMATIC CANAL)

BOUNDARIES OF TEMPORAL FOSSA

superior; superior temporal line

anterior: temporal line of the frontal bone

zygommatic process of the frontal bone

frontal process of the zygomatic bone

posterior- sup border of the zygomatic bone

inferior:

• sygomatic arc (laterally) of the temporal bone

• zygomatic canal

• infratemporal crest of the greater wing of the sphenoid (medially)

• supramastoid crest

Bones that build up the framework of the fossa

• Lateral surface of frontal

• Inferior surface of the parietal

• Squama of the temporal

• Temporal surface of the greater wing of the sphenoid

• Temporal surface of the zygomatic

Most important structure housed 

• Deep and superficial temporal arteries and nerves

• Auriculotemporal nerve

• Temporal fascia

•  Temporalis muscle

INFRATEMPORAL or PTERYGOMAXILLARY FOSSA

Wide farrow localized:

-Posterior to the maxillary bone

-Inferior to the greater wing of the sphenoid

-Lateral to the pterygoid process of the sphenoid

INFRATEMPORAL or PTERYGOMAXILLARY FOSSA

Lateral or external border: INFRATEMPORAL or PTERYGOMAXILLARY FOSSA

ramus, coronoid process and mandibular notch of the mandible and medial surface of masseter muscle

INFRATEMPORAL or PTERYGOMAXILLARY FOSSA- medial or internal border

pterygomaxillary fissure, lateral pterygoid plate of the sphenoid, pyramidal process of the palatine bone and pharynx

INFRATEMPORAL or PTERYGOMAXILLARY FOSSA- posterior border

styloid process, condylar process of the mandible, and parotid gland

INFRATEMPORAL or PTERYGOMAXILLARY FOSSA- ANTERIOR BORDER

tuberosity of the maxillary bone (communication to the surface below the zygomatic process of the maxillary bone)

INFRATEMPORAL or PTERYGOMAXILLARY FOSSA- SUPERIOR BORDER 

zygomatic (infratemporal surface), infratemporal crest of

the lateral surface of the greater wing of the sphenoid (foramen oval and

foramen spinosum), lateral surface of the squama of the temporal

INFRATEMPORAL or PTERYGOMAXILLARY FOSSA- POSTERIOR BORDER

No anatomic floor (an inferior plane to mandible’s inferior border), where the medial pterygoid

muscle attaches to the mandible

INFRATEMPORAL or PTERYGOMAXILLARY FOSSA BOARDERS- Lateral or external border

ramus, coronoid

process and mandibular notch of the mandible

and medial surface of masseter muscle

INFRATEMPORAL or PTERYGOMAXILLARY FOSSA BOARDERS- MEDIAL OR INETERNAL BORDERS

lateral pterygoid plate of the sphenoid, pyramidal process of thepalatine bone, pterygomaxillary fissure, and pharynx

INFRATEMPORAL or PTERYGOMAXILLARY FOSSA BOARDERS- POSTERIOR 

styloid process, condylar process of the mandible and parotid gland

INFRATEMPORAL or PTERYGOMAXILLARY FOSSA BOARDERS- ANTERIOR

tuberosity of the maxillary bone (communication to the face below

the zygomatic process of the maxillary bone)

INFRATEMPORAL or PTERYGOMAXILLARY FOSSA BOARDERS- SUPERIOR

zygomatic (infratemporal) portion of the lateral surface of the greater wing of the sphenoid (foramen oval and foramen spinosum)

INFRATEMPORAL or PTERYGOMAXILLARY FOSSA BOARDERS- INFERIOR

no anatomic floor (an inferior plane to mandible’s inferior border), where the medial pterygoid muscle attaches to the mandible

OPENING OF INFRATEMPORAL or PTERYGOMAXILLARY FOSSA

- Temporal fossa (lateral-superior): ZYGOMATIC CANAL

- Masseter region (lateral): MANDIBULAR NOTCH

-Pterygopalatine fossa (medial): PTERYGOMAXILLARY FISSURE

- Middle cranial fossa (medial-superior): FORAMEN OVALE and FORAMEN

SPINOSUM

IMPORTANT STRUCTURES HOUSED:INFRATEMPORAL or PTERYGOMAXILLARY FOSSA

-Inferior part of the temporalis muscle and lateral and medial pterygoid muscles

-Maxillary vessels

-Mandibular nerve (V3)

PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA

• Pyramid-shaped fossa on the lateral aspect of the skull between the maxilla’s

posterior surface and the pterygoid process of the sphenoid

• Medial to the infratemporal fossa

attention has no lateral walls 

PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA ANTERIOR WALL

tuberosity of the maxillary bone

PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA- POSTERIOR WALL

anterior-medial surface of the pterygoid process of the

sphenoid (in its superior part, it is located the PTERYGOID or VIDIAN CANAL)

PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA- MEDIAL WALL

perpendicular plate of the palatine (in its superior part

SPHENOPALATINE NOTCH for the communication with the nasal cavities)

PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA- BASE

upward; is related anterior with the orbit through the INFERIOR ORBITAL

FISSURE and posterior with the inferior surface of the sphenoid (FORAMEN

ROTUNDUM)

PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA- Vertex

downward; it’s the joint between the pterygoid process, the

tuberosity of the maxillary bone, and pyramidal process of the palatine

PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA

PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA - OPENINGS

• Pterygomaxillary fossa (lateral): PTERYGOMAXILLARY FISSURE

• Orbit (antero-superior): INFERIOR ORBITAL FISSURE (infraorbitary v&n)

• Nasal cavity (medial): SPHENOPALATINE FORAMEN (sphenopalatine v&n)

• Middle cranial fossa (antero-posterior): FORAMEN ROTUNDUM (V2 trigeminal)

• Pterygoid fossa (posterior): PTERYGOID CANAL (vidian nerve)

• Oral cavity (inferior): PALATINE CANAL (greater palatine nerves and vessels)

PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA-IMPORTANT STRUCTURES HOUSED 

• Maxillary nerve V2 (foramen rotundum)

• Pterygopalatine ganglion

• Vidian nerve (pterygoid canal)

• Sphenopalatine canal, sphenopalatine nerves and vessels

• Palatine and alveolar nerves