infratemporal fossa

Introduction

The cavity or fossa on the side of the skull bounded by:

lateral:

• zygomatic arch
• ramus of the mandible

medial:

• lateral pterygoid plate

anterior:

• zygomatic process of the maxilla
• infratemporal surface of the maxilla

posterior:

• tympanic plate of the temporal bone
• styloid process of the temporal bone
• mastoid process of the temporal bone

superior:

• infratemporal surface of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone

More general terms

• fossa