The infratemporal fossa is an irregularly shaped (somewhat inverted square/pyramid-shaped) space situated at the lateral aspect of the skull. As the name suggests, it is found inferior to the temporal fossa and deep to the mandibular ramus.

The infratemporal fossa communicates with the orbit and two adjacent fossae - the temporal fossa and pterygopalatine fossa. Superiorly, it connects with the temporal fossa via the space deep to the zygomatic arch. Medially, the infratemporal fossa communicates with the pterygopalatine fossa via the pterygomaxillary fissure. Anteriorly, it connects with the orbit via the inferior orbital fissure.

The infratemporal fossa houses and protects a wide variety of neurovascular structures that pass through it, entering and leaving the cranial cavity. Besides that, the infratemporal fossa contains several muscles of mastication.

Overall, the main structures that are found within the infratemporal fossa are listed below:

Nerves and ganglia: mandibular nerve (CN V3) and its major branches (deep temporal nerve, masseteric nerve, auriculotemporal nerve, buccal nerve, lingual nerve, and inferior alveolar nerve), posterior superior alveolar nerves (branches of the maxillary nerve (CN V2)), chorda tympani, lesser petrosal nerve, and the otic ganglion.
Blood vessels: maxillary artery and its branches (middle meningeal artery, accessory meningeal artery, inferior alveolar artery, masseteric artery, buccal artery, pterygoid artery, anterior and posterior deep temporal arteries, posterior superior alveolar artery, infraorbital artery, and sphenopalatine artery), maxillary vein, and pterygoid venous plexus.
Muscles and tendons: medial pterygoid muscle and lateral pterygoid muscle, as well as the tendon and inferior part of the temporalis muscle.

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Infratemporal fossa