Anatomy of Temporal fossa in a Nutshell

Anatomy of Temporal fossa

Temporal fossa:

• Has the temporalis muscle
• Inferiorly, have the infratemporal fossa
  • Zygomatic arch covers most of the structures here
    • Made up of 2 processes
      1. Temporal process of the zygomatic bone
      2. Zygomatic process of the temporal bone
    • See suture line between 2 components
• 1. 1. 1. Very irregular in shape
• Temporal lines:
  • Superior
  • Inferior
  • Are on the lateral aspect of the flat bones of the skull
  • They are the points of attachment for temporalis muscle and its fascia.

Mandible:

• External view
  • Horizontal part = body of mandible

1. 1. • Mental foramen: transmits mental nerve, artery, vein.
      • Inferior alveolar processes: form sockets for lower teeth

1. • Vertical part = the ramus of the mandible

• • • Has anterior process = coronoid process
    • Posteriorly, have rounded mandibular head (aka mandibular condyle)
      1. Articulates with the temporal bone
      2. Forms the mandibular portion of the Temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

• • • Have mandibular notch (between coronoid process and mandibular head)
  • Angle of the Mandible: Where the ramus meets the body (particularly at the inferior point)

• Internal view:

1. • Horizontal part: body

1. 1. • Mylohyoid line: attachment for mylohyoid muscle
      • Mylohyoid Groove: made for nerve to mylohyoid (also partially in vertical part)

• Vertical part: ramus
• • Mandibular foramen:
    • Forms entrance foramen for canal in lower jaw:
    • the exit for this canal is the mental foramen
    • Canal allows nerves / arteries / veins to get to the teeth (called inferior alveolar nerve / artery)
• Lingula:
  • little spicule of bone
  • attachment point for the sphenomandibular ligament
    • looks like a nerve (white shiny structure)
    • major ligament to hold mandible to skull
• Mylohyoid groove: made for nerve to the mylohyoid (runs into horizontal part as well)

Clinical: When you lose your teeth

1. • The mandible begins to reabsorb the bone of the sockets
   • Continues to occur over time, see mandibular absorbed all the way to the mental foramen
   • May have mental nerve become unprotected, dentures will be on almost on the mental nerve

Sphenoid bone:

• Primarily in the middle cranial fossa
• Majority can be seen from internal aspect of skull
• Lesser wing of the sphenoid is considered part of the anterior cranial fossa
• Greater wing is in the middle cranial fossa
• Superior view:
  • Lesser wing
  • Greater wing: extends laterally, has 3 openings

1. 1. • Foramen rotundum: transmits the second division of trigeminal nerve (Maxillary division) V2.
      • Foramen ovale: transmits the third division of trigeminal nerve (Mandibular division) V3.

• • • Foramen Spinosum
      1. Smallest, most posterior
      2. Transmits the middle meningeal artery (is coming up through it to make its way to supply dura mater)

1. • Very center portion

1. 1. • Called Body of sphenoid bone
      • Has the pituitary fossa which houses the pituitary gland

• Inferior view:
  • Medial pterygoid plates: Attachment for muscles of palate
  • Lateral  pterygoid plates: Attachment for muscles of mastication

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