Joints and Ligaments of the Infratemporal Region

A. Temporomandibular joint

Is a combined gliding and hinge type of the synovial joint (ginglymoid-arthrodial compound synovial joint) between the mandibular fossa and the articular tubercle of the temporal bone above and the head of the mandible below, and has two (superior and inferior) synovial cavities divided by an articular disk , which is an oval plate of dense fibrous tissue.
Consists of an upper gliding joint (between the articular tubercle and mandibular fossa above and the articular disk below where forward gliding or protrusion and backward gliding or retraction takes place) and a lower hinge joint (between the disk and the mandibular head [condylar process] where elevation [closing] and depression [opening] of the jaw takes place). During yawning, the disk and the condyle (head) of the mandible glide across the articular tubercle.
Has an articular capsule that extends from the articular tubercle and the margins of the mandibular fossa to the neck of the mandible.
Is reinforced by the lateral (temporomandibular) ligament , which extends from the tubercle on the zygoma to the neck of the mandible, and the sphenomandibular ligament , which extends from the spine of the sphenoid bone to the lingula of the mandible.
Is innervated by the auriculotemporal and masseteric branches of the mandibular nerve.
Is supplied by the superficial temporal, maxillary (middle meningeal and anterior tympanic branches), and ascending pharyngeal arteries.

B. Pterygomandibular raphe

Is a ligamentous band (or a tendinous inscription) between the buccinator muscle and the superior pharyngeal constrictor.
Extends between the pterygoid hamulus superiorly and the posterior end of the mylohyoid line of the mandible inferiorly.

C. Stylomandibular ligament

Extends from the styloid process to the posterior border of the ramus of the mandible, near the angle of the mandible, separating the parotid from the submandibular gland.

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