Human Anatomy
Temporal and Infratemporal Regions
Temporal and infratemporal anatomy for MBBS: muscles of mastication, maxillary artery, mandibular nerve, otic ganglion and temporomandibular joint, mapped to NMC codes AN33.1 to AN33.5.
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Temporal and Infratemporal Regions
Temporal and infratemporal anatomy for MBBS: muscles of mastication, maxillary artery, mandibular nerve, otic ganglion and temporomandibular joint, mapped to NMC codes AN33.1 to AN33.5.
The temporal and infratemporal regions chapter covers the muscles of mastication, the maxillary artery, the mandibular nerve and its branches, and the ganglia of the region. It is the anatomical basis for dental anaesthesia, referred jaw pain and disorders of the temporomandibular joint.
High-yield: Temporal and Infratemporal Regions
- The infratemporal fossa lies deep to the ramus of the mandible and contains the muscles of mastication, the maxillary artery and the mandibular nerve.
- The four muscles of mastication are masseter, temporalis and the medial and lateral pterygoids, all supplied by the mandibular nerve.
- The lateral pterygoid is the muscle that opens the jaw and protrudes it, while the others close the jaw.
- The mandibular nerve is the only division of the trigeminal that carries motor fibres, supplying the muscles of mastication.
- The maxillary artery is the larger terminal branch of the external carotid and is divided into three parts by the lateral pterygoid.
- The middle meningeal artery, a branch of the maxillary artery, enters the skull through the foramen spinosum.
- The inferior alveolar nerve enters the mandibular foramen to supply the lower teeth and is the nerve blocked in dental anaesthesia.
- The lingual nerve carries general sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and is joined by the chorda tympani for taste.
- The chorda tympani, a branch of the facial nerve, carries taste and secretomotor fibres to the submandibular and sublingual glands.
- The auriculotemporal nerve encircles the middle meningeal artery and carries secretomotor fibres to the parotid gland.
- The otic ganglion hangs from the mandibular nerve and relays parasympathetic fibres to the parotid.
- The pterygoid venous plexus surrounds the lateral pterygoid and communicates with the cavernous sinus.
- The temporomandibular joint is a synovial joint with an articular disc dividing it into upper and lower compartments.
- Dislocation of the temporomandibular joint carries the head of the mandible forward over the articular tubercle.
Muscles of mastication and their nerve
- **Masseter and temporalis:** Close the jaw. Supplied by the mandibular nerve.
- **Medial pterygoid:** Closes and helps protrude the jaw. Mandibular nerve.
- **Lateral pterygoid:** Opens and protrudes the jaw, the odd one out. Mandibular nerve.
- **Key nerves:** Inferior alveolar for the lower teeth, lingual for tongue sensation, auriculotemporal to the parotid.
NMC competencies in this chapter
- **AN33.1:** Boundaries and contents of the temporal and infratemporal fossae
- **AN33.2:** Muscles of mastication: attachments, actions and nerve supply
- **AN33.3:** Maxillary artery and pterygoid venous plexus
- **AN33.4:** Mandibular nerve, its branches and the otic ganglion
- **AN33.5:** Temporomandibular joint and applied anatomy
Frequently Asked Questions
Which muscle opens the mouth?
The lateral pterygoid opens and protrudes the jaw, while masseter, temporalis and the medial pterygoid close it. All four are supplied by the mandibular nerve.
Which nerve is blocked in a dental injection for the lower teeth?
The inferior alveolar nerve is anaesthetised as it enters the mandibular foramen, numbing the lower teeth and, with the lingual nerve nearby, part of the tongue.
Why can infratemporal infections spread to the brain?
The pterygoid venous plexus communicates with the cavernous sinus, so infection here can spread intracranially, similar to the danger area of the face.
How does this chapter help in NEET-PG?
The mandibular nerve, muscles of mastication and the temporomandibular joint appear in dentistry, ENT and surgery questions, keeping this region high-yield after first year.
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