X CLOSE

Dissection of left infratemporal and pterygopalatine fossae

Cavity of temporomandibular articulation, inferolateral view

Stanford holds the copyright to the David L. Bassett anatomical images and has assigned Creative Commons license Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International to all of the images.
For additional information regarding use and permissions, please contact Dr. Drew Bourn at dbourn@stanford.edu.

Image #65-7
Bassett ImageDiagram Image
Legend Image
Dissection of left infratemporal and pterygopalatine fossae
Cavity of temporomandibular articulation, inferolateral view
The inferior cavity of the temporomandibular joint has been fully exposed by removal of mandible. The joint cavity on the inferior surface of the articular disk is indicated by stipple in the drawing (3) but is not clearly visible in the view. It is not coextensive with the superior joint space which overlaps the lower cavity anteriorly but does not descend as far as posterior to the condyle of the mandible. The relation of the masseteric nerve (4) to the joint capsule is shown.
1 . Right pointer: Mandibular fossa (superior articular cavity) Left pointer: Tubercle of articulation
2 . Articular disc of mandible
3 . Inferior cavity of temporomandibular joint
4 . Masseteric nerve
5 . Greater wing of sphenoid (cut through)
6 . Anterior deep temporal nerve
7 . Auriculotemporal nerve (note communications between this nerve and the internal maxillary plexus)
8 . Remnant of pterygoid venous plexus
9 . Buccal nerve
10 . External pterygoid nerve
11 . Lingual nerve
12 . Deep posterior temporal artery
13 . Internal maxillary artery
14 . Internal maxillary nerve plexus
15 . Inferior alveolar nerve
16 . Mylohyoid nerve
17 . Area of insertion of internal pterygoid muscle
18 . External acoustic meatus
19 . Cartilaginous acoustic meatus
20 . Ceruminous gland
21 . Mastoid cells
22 . Auricular branch vagus nerve
23 . Joint capsule of mandible
24 . Deep auricular artery
25 . Styloid process
26 . Stylomastoid artery
27 . Superficial temporal artery
28 . Facial nerve (VII)
29 . Transverse facial artery and superior deep cervical lymph node
30 . Tendon of sternocleidomastoid muscle
31 . Sphenomandibular ligament
32 . Posterior auricular artery
33 . Posterior belly of digastric muscle
34 . External carotid artery