Anatomy - Head And Neck Gray's Questions

Front 1

what are the contents of the temporal fossa?

Back 1

The major structure in the temporal fossa are the temporalis muscle.
Also passing through the fossa is the zygomaticotemporal branches of the maxillary nerve [V2], which enter the region through foramina on the temporal fossa surface of the zygomatic bone.

Front 2

what make up the walls of the infratemporal fossa?

Back 2

the roof is formed by the inferior surfaces of the greater wing of the sphenoid and the temporal bone, contains the foramen spinosum, foramen ovale, and the petrotympanic fissure, and lateral to the infratemporal crest of the greater wing of the sphenoid, is open superiorly to the temporal fossa;
the lateral wall is the medial surface of the ramus of the mandible, which contains the opening to the mandibular canal;
the medial wall is formed anteriorly by the lateral plate of the pterygoid process and more posteriorly by the pharynx and by two muscles of the soft palate (tensor and levator veli palatini muscles), and contains the pterygomaxillary fissure anteriorly, which allows structures to pass between the infratemporal and pterygopalatine fossae;
the anterior wall is formed by part of the posterior surface of the maxilla, contains the alveolar foramen, and the upper part opens as the infra-orbital fissure into the orbit.

Front 3

what are the contents of the infratemporal fossa?

Back 3

Major contents of the infratemporal fossa include the sphenomandibular ligament, medial and lateral pterygoid muscles, the maxillary artery, the mandibular nerve [V3], branches of the facial nerve [VII], and the glossopharyngeal nerve [IX], and the pterygoid plexus of veins.

Front 4

Describe the mandibular nerve V3.

Back 4

In addition to carrying general sensation from the teeth and gingivae of the mandible, the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, mucosa on the floor of the oral cavity, the lower lip, skin over the temple and lower face, and part of the cranial dura mater, the mandibular nerve [V3] also carries motor innervation to most of the muscles that move the mandible, one of the muscles (tensor tympani) in the middle ear, and one of the muscles of the soft palate (tensor veli palatini).
All branches of the mandibular nerve [V3] originate in the infratemporal fossa

Front 5

describe distribution of anterior trunk of V3

Back 5

branches from the anterior trunk are the buccal, masseteric, and deep temporal nerves, and the nerve to lateral pterygoid, all of which, except the buccal nerve (which is predominantly sensory) are motor nerves;

Front 6

describe the distribution of the posterior trunk of V3

Back 6

branches from the posterior trunk are the auriculotemporal, lingual, and inferior alveolar nerves, all of which, except a small nerve (nerve to mylohyoid) that branches from the inferior alveolar nerve, are sensory nerves.