Relationships

Front 1

Temporalis m./zygomatic arch

Back 1

The tendon of the temporalis m. passes through the gap between the side of the skull and the zygomatic arch

Front 2

Mandibular foramen/Nerve and vessels

Back 2

The inferior alveolar nerves and vessels enter the mandibular foramen

Front 3

Mental formen/Nerve and vessels

Back 3

The inferior alveolar a. and n. enter the mandibular formen, course through the mandibular canal and exit the mental foramen as the mental a. and n.

Front 4

Lingula/Ligament

Back 4

The sphenomandibular ligament attaches to the lingula overlapping the mandibular foramen

Front 5

Mylohyoid groove/Nerve and vessels

Back 5

Mylohyoid nerve (V3) and vessels course in the mylohyoid groove

Front 6

Foramen ovale/Nerves

Back 6

The foramen ovale transmits the mandibular division (V3) of the trigeminal nerve and the lesser petrosal nerve (IX)

Front 7

Foramen spinosum/Nerve and vessels

Back 7

The foramen spinosum transmits the meningeal branch of V3 and the middle meningeal a.

Front 8

Maxilla/Posterior Superior Alveolar a.

Back 8

The posterior superior alveolar a. pierces the maxilla in the infratemporal fossa to supply the maxillary teeth

Front 9

Lateral pterygoid m./Artery and veins

Back 9

Part of the maxillary a. and the pterygoid venous plexus are superficial to this muscle

Front 10

Lateral pterygoid m./Sensory branch of V3 anterior division

Back 10

The buccal nerve (V3, Sensory) courses between the upper and lower head of the lateral pterygoid m.

Front 11

Ciliary Ganglion/Muscle and nerve

Back 11

The ciliary ganglion is between the optic n. (CN II) and the lateral rectus m.

Front 12

Parasympathetics of eye/Cranial nerve

Back 12

The parasympathetics from the Edinger-Westphal nucleus taxi on the inferior ramus of the oculomotor n. (CN III) to the ciliary ganglion --> short ciliary nerves --> sphincter pupillae m. and ciliary m.

Front 13

Sympathetics of the eye/Nasociliary n.

Back 13

Long ciliary nerves, taxi on the nasociliary n. (V1) --> dilator pupillae m.

Front 14

Sympathetics of the eye/Artery and nerve

Back 14

Other sympathetics of the eye taxi on the ophthalmic a. and the superior ramus of CN III --> superior tarsal m. (smooth m. of the levator palpebrae m.)

Front 15

Auriculotemporal n./Superficial temporal a.

Back 15

The auriculotemporal n. is posterior to the superficial temporal a. in the area anterior the auricle

Front 16

Parotid duct/Facial n. branches

Back 16

The parotid duct is between the upper buccal branch of CN VII (upper division) and the lower buccal branch of CN VII (lower division)

Front 17

Parasympathetics to parotid gland/Auriculotemporal n.

Back 17

The parasympathetic secretomotor nerves (IX) to the parotid gland taxi on the auriculotemporal n. (V3) which is the sensory n. of the gland

Front 18

Buccinator m./Parotid duct

Back 18

The parotid duct pierces the buccinator muscle to open opposite the second upper molar tooth

Front 19

Optic canal/Nerves and vessels through it

Back 19

The optic n. (CN II) and the ophthalmic a. enter the orbit through the optic canal

Front 20

Superior orbital fissure (through tendinous ring)/Nerves and vessels through it

Back 20

Occulomotor n. (CN III), abducens n. (CN VI) and the nasocilliary n. (CN V1)

Front 21

Superior orbital fissure (above tendinous ring)/Nerves and vessels through it

Back 21

Frontal n. (CN V1), lacrimal n. (CN V1), trochlear n. (CN IV) and the superior ophthalmic v.

Front 22

Ophthalmic a./CN II

Back 22

The ophthalmic a. enters the orbit through the optic canal and crosses CN II lateral to medial

Front 23

CN III/Sympathetics to eyelid muscle

Back 23

The superior ramus of CN III is a taxi for sympathetics to superior tarsal m. (of the levator palpebrae superioris m.)

Front 24

Masseter m./Medial pterygoid m

Back 24

These muscles form a sling around the angle of the mandible

Front 25

Lateral pterygoid m./Motor branches of V3 anterior division

Back 25

The deep temporal nn. (M) and the masseteric n. (M) enter the infratemporal fossa between the lateral pterygoid m. and the skull

Front 26

Middle meningeal a./Auriculotemporal n. (V3 posterior division)

Back 26

The roots of the auriculotemporal n. arise from V3, surround the middle meningeal a. and unite to become the auriculotemporal n. (S)

Front 27

Pterygoid mm./Branches of V3 posterior division

Back 27

The lingual n. (S) and the inferior alveolar n. (S) emerge between the lateral and medial pterygoid mm.

Front 28

Lingual n./Inferior alveolar n.

Back 28

Between the pterygoid mm., the lingual n. is anterior and medial to the inferior alveolar n.

Front 29

/Foramen ovaleOtic ganglion

Back 29

The otic ganglion lies on the V3 trunk just outside the foramen ovale (parasympathetic lesser petrosal n. --> parotid gland)

Front 30

Lingual nerve/Chorda tympani

Back 30

The chorda tympani (intermediate nerve of CN VII) taxis on the lingual n. (CN V3) to the submandibular ganglion and the submandibular and sublingual glands

Front 31

Facial n./Stylomastoid foramen

Back 31

The facial n. exits the stylomastoid foramen

Front 32

Facial n./Parotid gland

Back 32

The facial n. then traverses through the parotid gland, where it gives off six named branches

Front 33

Greater petrosal n./Deep petrosal n.

Back 33

The deep petrosal n. (sympathetic from ICA) joins the greater petrosal n. (VII) to become the n. of the pterygoid canal, which courses through the pterygopalatine ganglion, with the zygomaticotemporal n. (V2) to the lacrimal gland

Front 34

Facial n. branches/Stylomastoid foramen

Back 34

Close to the stylomastoid foramen, the facial n. gives off the posterior auricular n. and the nerve to posterior digastric and stylohyoid mm.

Front 35

Chorda tympani n./Pars flacida

Back 35

The chorda tympani n. underlies the pars flacida of the tympanic membrane, which is why the pars flacida should be avoided when draining the middle ear

Front 36

Chorda tympani n./Ossicles of middle ear

Back 36

The chorda tympani n. courses medial to the handle of the malleus and lateral to the process of the incus

Front 37

Roof of tympanic cavity/Temporal lobe and meninges

Back 37

The meninges and the temporal lobe overlie the roof of the tympanic membrane, meaning a middle ear infection could lead to meningitis or a temporal lobe abcess

Front 38

Floor of the tympanic cavity/Internal jugular v.

Back 38

The internal jugular v. underlies the floor of the tympanic membrane, meaning a middle ear infection could lead to thrombosis of the IJV

Front 39

Mandibular notch/Nerves and vessels

Back 39

The masseter nerve and vessels course through the mandibular notch

Front 40

Pterygopalatine fossa/Artery

Back 40

The maxillary a. courses through the pterygopalatine fossa

Front 41

CN VIIIv/Medulla/Pons

Back 41

The vestibular n. enters the brain stem between the spinal V tract and the ICP at a level where the brain stem is attached to the cerebellum

Front 42

CN VII/Nuclei in lower pons

Back 42

The spinal V tract and nucleus are lateral to CN VII and the facial motor nuclues is medial to VII

Front 43

Inferior orbital fissure/Nerves and vessels through it

Back 43

Inferior ophthalmic v., infraorbital branch of V2 and the zygomatic branch of V2

Front 44

Optic canal/Sphenoid bone

Back 44

The optic canal is formed by the two roots of the lesser wing of the sphenoid bone

Front 45

Superior orbital fissure/Sphenoid bone

Back 45

The superior orbital fissure is between the greater and lesser wings of the sphenoid bone