Preferred Label : infratemporal fossa;
Uberon definition : The infratemporal fossa is an irregularly shaped cavity, situated below and medial
to the zygomatic arch. Boundaries defined by: anteriorly, by the infratemporal surface
of the maxilla and the ridge which descends from its zygomatic process posteriorly,
by the articular tubercle of the temporal and the spinal angularis of the sphenoid
superiorly, by the greater wing of the sphenoid below the infratemporal crest, and
by the under surface of the temporal squama, containing the foramen ovale, which transmits
the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve, and the foramen spinosum, which transmits
the middle meningeal artery inferiorly, by the medial pterygoid muscle attaching to
the mandible medially, by the lateral pterygoid plate laterally, by the ramus of mandible,
which contains the mandibular foramen, leading to the mandibular canal through which
the inferior alveolar nerve passes. This also contains the lingula, a triangular piece
of bone that overlies the mandibular foramen antero-medially. Finally, the mylohyoid
groove descends obliquely transmitting the mylohyoid nerve the only motor branch of
the anterior division of the trigeminal nerve.;
Uberon related term : fossa infratemporalis; infratemporal; pterygomaxillary fossa;
Origin ID : 0013422;
Automatic exact mappings (from CISMeF team)
- Currated CISMeF NLP mapping
- Uberon cross reference
- part of
The infratemporal fossa is an irregularly shaped cavity, situated below and medial
to the zygomatic arch. Boundaries defined by: anteriorly, by the infratemporal surface
of the maxilla and the ridge which descends from its zygomatic process posteriorly,
by the articular tubercle of the temporal and the spinal angularis of the sphenoid
superiorly, by the greater wing of the sphenoid below the infratemporal crest, and
by the under surface of the temporal squama, containing the foramen ovale, which transmits
the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve, and the foramen spinosum, which transmits
the middle meningeal artery inferiorly, by the medial pterygoid muscle attaching to
the mandible medially, by the lateral pterygoid plate laterally, by the ramus of mandible,
which contains the mandibular foramen, leading to the mandibular canal through which
the inferior alveolar nerve passes. This also contains the lingula, a triangular piece
of bone that overlies the mandibular foramen antero-medially. Finally, the mylohyoid
groove descends obliquely transmitting the mylohyoid nerve the only motor branch of
the anterior division of the trigeminal nerve.
