The infratemporal fossa is an irregularly shaped cavity, situated below and medial to the zygomatic arch

Zygomatic arch

The zygomatic arch or cheek bone is formed by the zygomatic process of temporal bone and the temporal process of the zygomatic bone , the two being united by an oblique suture; the tendon of the Temporalis passes medial to the arch to gain insertion into the coronoid process...

.

• anteriorly, by the infratemporal surface of the maxilla
  Maxilla
  The maxilla is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper jaw. This is similar to the mandible , which is also a fusion of two halves at the mental symphysis. Sometimes The maxilla (plural: maxillae) is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper...
  
   and the ridge which descends from its zygomatic process
  Zygomatic process
  Zygomatic process is a protrusion from the rest of the skull, like the bumper of a car. Most of it belongs to the zygomatic bone, and could therefore be called the zygomatic process of the zygomatic bone...
  
  

• posteriorly, by the articular tubercle
  Articular tubercle
  The anterior root of the posterior end of the outer surface of the Squama temporalis, continuous with the lower border, is short but broad and strong; it is directed medialward and ends in a rounded eminence, the articular tubercle .This tubercle forms the front boundary of the mandibular fossa,...
  
   of the temporal
  Temporal bone
  The temporal bones are situated at the sides and base of the skull, and lateral to the temporal lobes of the cerebrum.The temporal bone supports that part of the face known as the temple.-Parts:The temporal bone consists of four parts:* Squama temporalis...
  
   and the spinal angularis of the sphenoid
  Sphenoid bone
  The sphenoid bone is an unpaired bone situated at the base of the skull in front of the temporal bone and basilar part of the occipital bone.The sphenoid bone is one of the seven bones that articulate to form the orbit...
  
  

• superiorly, by the greater wing of the sphenoid below the infratemporal crest
  Infratemporal crest
  The lateral surface of the great wing of the sphenoid is convex, and divided by a transverse ridge, the infratemporal crest, into two portions....
  
  , and by the under surface of the temporal squama , containing the foramen ovale
  Foramen ovale
  There are multiple structures in the human body with the name foramen ovale :* In the fetal heart, the foramen ovale is a shunt from the right atrium to left atrium....
  
  , which transmits the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve
  Trigeminal nerve
  The trigeminal nerve contains both sensory and motor fibres. It is responsible for sensation in the face and certain motor functions such as biting, chewing, and swallowing. Sensory information from the face and body is processed by parallel pathways in the central nervous system...
  
  , and the foramen spinosum
  Foramen spinosum
  The foramen spinosum is one of several foramina located in the base of the skull, on the sphenoid bone, situated lateral to the foramen ovale, in a posterior angle.-Contents:It permits the passage of certain arteries, veins and/or other structures:...
  
  , which transmits the middle meningeal artery
  Middle meningeal artery
  The middle meningeal artery is typically the third branch of the first part of the maxillary artery, one of the two terminal branches of the external carotid artery...
  
  

• inferiorly, by the medial pterygoid muscle
  Medial pterygoid muscle
  The medial pterygoid , is a thick, quadrilateral muscle of mastication.The mandibular branch of the fifth cranial nerve, the trigeminal nerve, innervates the medial pterygoid muscle.-Origin and insertion:...
  
   attaching to the mandible

• medially, by the lateral pterygoid plate
  Lateral pterygoid plate
  The lateral pterygoid plate of the sphenoid is broad, thin, and everted; its lateral surface forms part of the medial wall of the infratemporal fossa, and gives attachment to the lateral pterygoid muscle; its medial surface forms part of the pterygoid fossa, and gives attachment to the medial...
  
  

• laterally, by the ramus of mandible, which contains the mandibular foramen
  Mandibular foramen
  The Mandibular foramen is an opening on the internal surface of the ramus for divisions of the mandibular vessels and nerve to pass.-Contents:...
  
  , leading to the mandibular canal
  Mandibular canal
  The mandibular canal is a canal within the mandible that contains the inferior alveolar nerve, inferior alveolar artery, and inferior alveolar vein...
  
   through which the inferior alveolar nerve
  Inferior alveolar nerve
  The inferior alveolar nerve is a branch of the mandibular nerve, which is itself the third branch of the trigeminal nerve .-Path:...
  
   passes. This also contains the lingula
  Lingula
  Lingula is Latin for "little tongue". It can stand for:* Lingula , a brachiopod genus of the family Lingulidae, which is among the few brachiopods surviving today but also known from fossils over 500 million years old* In anatomy:...
  
  , a triangular piece of bone that overlies the mandibular foramen antero-medially. Finally, the mylohyoid groove
  Mylohyoid groove
  The margin of the mandibular foramen is irregular; it presents in front a prominent ridge, surmounted by a sharp spine, the lingula mandibulæ, which gives attachment to the sphenomandibular ligament; at its lower and back part is a notch from which the mylohyoid groove runs obliquely downward and...
  
   descends obliquely transmitting the mylohyoid nerve
  Mylohyoid nerve
  The mylohyoid nerve is a nerve that innervates the mylohyoid muscle and the anterior belly of the digastric muscle.-Structure:...
  
   the only motor branch of the anterior division of the trigeminal nerve
  Trigeminal nerve
  The trigeminal nerve contains both sensory and motor fibres. It is responsible for sensation in the face and certain motor functions such as biting, chewing, and swallowing. Sensory information from the face and body is processed by parallel pathways in the central nervous system...
  
  .

Floor is formed by the Medial pterygoid muscle (superior surface where it insets into the mandible)

Muscles

• Lower part of the Temporalis muscle
• Lateral
  Lateral pterygoid muscle
  The lateral pterygoid is a muscle of mastication with two heads. It lies superiorly to the medial pterygoid.-Origin and insertion:...
  
   and medial pterygoid muscles
  Medial pterygoid muscle
  The medial pterygoid , is a thick, quadrilateral muscle of mastication.The mandibular branch of the fifth cranial nerve, the trigeminal nerve, innervates the medial pterygoid muscle.-Origin and insertion:...
  
  

Vessels

The internal maxillary vessels, consisting of the maxillary artery originating from the external carotid artery

External carotid artery

In human anatomy, the external carotid artery is a major artery of the head and neck. It arises from the common carotid artery when it bifurcates into the external and internal carotid artery.-Course:...

 and its branches.

Internal maxillary branches found within the infratemporal fossa including the

• middle meningeal artery
  Middle meningeal artery
  The middle meningeal artery is typically the third branch of the first part of the maxillary artery, one of the two terminal branches of the external carotid artery...
  
  
• inferior alveolar artery
  Inferior alveolar artery
  - Course :It descends with the inferior alveolar nerve to the mandibular foramen on the medial surface of the ramus of the mandible.It runs along the mandibular canal in the substance of the bone, accompanied by the nerve, and opposite the first premolar tooth divides into two branches, incisor and...
  
  
• deep temporal artery
• buccal artery

Nerves

Mandibular nerve

Mandibular nerve

The mandibular nerve is the largest of the three branches of the trigeminal nerve.-Roots:It is made up of two roots:* a large sensory root proceeding from the inferior angle of the trigeminal ganglion....

, inferior alveolar nerve

Inferior alveolar nerve

The inferior alveolar nerve is a branch of the mandibular nerve, which is itself the third branch of the trigeminal nerve .-Path:...

, lingual nerve

Lingual nerve

The lingual nerve is a branch of the mandibular nerve , itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve, which supplies sensory innervation to the tongue...

, buccal nerve

Buccal nerve

The buccal nerve is a nerve in the face. It is a branch of the mandibular nerve and transmits sensory information from skin over the buccal membrane and from the second and third molar teeth.-Course:It courses between the two heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle, underneath...

, chorda tympani nerve, and otic ganglion

Otic ganglion

The otic ganglion is a small, oval shaped, flattened parasympathetic ganglion of a reddish-gray color, located immediately below the foramen ovale in the infratemporal fossa. It gives innervation to the parotid gland for salivation....

.

Mandibular nerve

• Mandibular nerve
  Mandibular nerve
  The mandibular nerve is the largest of the three branches of the trigeminal nerve.-Roots:It is made up of two roots:* a large sensory root proceeding from the inferior angle of the trigeminal ganglion....
  
  which is the third branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V₃), also known as the "inferior maxillary nerve" or nervus mandibularis, enters infratemporal fossa from middle cranial fossa
  Middle cranial fossa
  The middle fossa, deeper than the anterior cranial fossa, is narrow medially and widens laterally to the sides of the skull. It is separated from the posterior fossa by the clivus and the petrous crest....
  
   through foramen ovale
  Foramen ovale
  There are multiple structures in the human body with the name foramen ovale :* In the fetal heart, the foramen ovale is a shunt from the right atrium to left atrium....
  
  .

Motor branches:

• masseteric nerve
  Masseteric nerve
  The masseteric nerve passes laterally, above the Pterygoideus externus, in front of the temporomandibular articulation, and behind the tendon of the Temporalis; it crosses the mandibular notch with the masseteric artery, to the deep surface of the Masseter, in which it ramifies nearly as far as its...
  
  
• deep temporal nerve
• lateral pterygoid nerve and medial pterygoid nerve

Its motor fibers innervate all the muscles of mastication plus the mylohyoid, anterior belly of the digastric, and the tensores veli palati and tympani

Sensory innervation:

• meningeal nerve
  Meningeal nerve
  Meningeal nerve can refer to:* Middle meningeal nerve* Meningeal branch of the mandibular nerve...
  
  
• buccal nerve
  Buccal nerve
  The buccal nerve is a nerve in the face. It is a branch of the mandibular nerve and transmits sensory information from skin over the buccal membrane and from the second and third molar teeth.-Course:It courses between the two heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle, underneath...
  
  
• auriculotemporal nerve
  Auriculotemporal nerve
  The auriculotemporal nerve is a branch of the mandibular nerve that runs with the superficial temporal artery and vein, and provides sensory innervation to various regions on the side of the head.-Origin:...
  
  
• lingual nerve
  Lingual nerve
  The lingual nerve is a branch of the mandibular nerve , itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve, which supplies sensory innervation to the tongue...
  
  
• inferior alveolar nerve
  Inferior alveolar nerve
  The inferior alveolar nerve is a branch of the mandibular nerve, which is itself the third branch of the trigeminal nerve .-Path:...
  
  
• auricle
  Ear
  The ear is the organ that detects sound. It not only receives sound, but also aids in balance and body position. The ear is part of the auditory system....
  
  
• external acoustic meatus
• tympanic membrane
• temporal region
• cheek
  Cheek
  Cheeks constitute the area of the face below the eyes and between the nose and the left or right ear. They may also be referred to as jowls. "Buccal" means relating to the cheek. In humans, the region is innervated by the buccal nerve...
  
  
• skin overlying the mandible (except at the angle of the mandible
  Angle of the mandible
  At the junction of the lower border of the ramus of the mandible with the posterior border is the angle of the mandible, which may be either inverted or everted and is marked by rough, oblique ridges on each side, for the attachment of the Masseter laterally, and the Pterygoideus internus medially;...
  
  )
• floor of mouth
• lower teeth
• gingiva
  Gingiva
  The gingiva , or gums, consists of the mucosal tissue that lies over the mandible and maxilla inside the mouth.-General description:...
  
  

Osteology

The foramen ovale

Foramen ovale

There are multiple structures in the human body with the name foramen ovale :* In the fetal heart, the foramen ovale is a shunt from the right atrium to left atrium....

 and foramen spinosum

Foramen spinosum

The foramen spinosum is one of several foramina located in the base of the skull, on the sphenoid bone, situated lateral to the foramen ovale, in a posterior angle.-Contents:It permits the passage of certain arteries, veins and/or other structures:...

 open on its roof, and the alveolar canals

Alveolar canals

The infratemporal surface of the maxilla is pierced about its center by the apertures of the alveolar canals, which transmit the posterior superior alveolar vessels and nerves....

 on its anterior wall.

At its upper and medial part are two fissures, which together form a T-shaped fissure, the horizontal limb being named the inferior orbital, and the vertical one the pterygomaxillary.