Mandibular fossa

(anatomy) The depression in the temporal bone that articulates with the mandibular condyle.

A deep hollow in the squamous portion of the temporal bone at the base of the zygomatic process in which the condyle of the mandible rests. Also called glenoid fossa.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a deep concavity in the temporal bone at the root of the zygomatic arch that receives the condyle of the mandible
  Synonym: glenoid fossa

Bone: Mandibular fossa
Left temporal bone. Outer surface. (Mandibular fossa labeled at left, third from the top.)
Base of skull. Inferior surface. (Mandibular fossa labeled at center left. Temporal bone is pink.)
Latin	f. mandibularis
Gray's	subject #34 140

In the temporal bone, the mandibular fossa (glenoid fossa) is bounded, in front, by the articular tubercle; behind, by the tympanic part of the bone, which separates it from the external acoustic meatus; it is divided into two parts by a narrow slit, the petrotympanic fissure (Glaserian fissure).

see also the TMJ

Additional images

Auditory tube, laid open by a cut in its long axis.

External links

• SUNY Figs 22:4b-07
• SUNY Labs 27:st-0311
• Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator, at Elsevier 34257.000-1
• photo at victoriacollege.edu

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.

v • d • e Bones of head and neck: the cranium of the skull Occipital Squama external (Inion/External occipital protuberance, Nuchal lines) · planes (Occipital, Nuchal) · internal (Cruciform eminence, Internal occipital protuberance, Sagittal sulcus, Internal occipital crest) Lateral parts Condyle (Condyloid fossa, Condylar canal) · Hypoglossal canal · jugular (Jugular process, Jugular tubercle) Basilar part Pharyngeal tubercle Other Foramen magnum Parietal Parietal eminence · Temporal line · Parietal foramen Frontal Squama Frontal suture · Frontal eminence · external (Superciliary arches, Glabella) · foramina (Supraorbital, Cecum) · Zygomatic process · internal (Sagittal sulcus, Frontal crest) Orbital part Ethmoidal notch · Lacrimal fossa · Trochlear fovea · Frontal sinus · Frontonasal duct Temporal Squama Articular tubercle · Suprameatal triangle · Mandibular fossa · Petrotympanic fissure · Zygomatic process Mastoid part Mastoid foramen · Mastoid process (Mastoid cells) · Mastoid notch · Occipital groove · Sigmoid sulcus · Mastoid antrum (Entrance) Petrous part Carotid canal · Facial canal (Hiatus) · Internal auditory meatus · Aqueduct of cochlea · Stylomastoid foramen fossae (Subarcuate fossa, Jugular fossa) · canaliculi (Inferior tympanic, Mastoid) · Styloid process · Petrosquamous suture (note: ossicles in petrous part, but not part of temporal bone) Tympanic part Suprameatal spine Sphenoid Surfaces Superior surface: Sella turcica (Dorsum sellae, Tuberculum sellae, Hypophysial fossa, Posterior clinoid processes) · Ethmoidal spine · Chiasmatic groove · Middle clinoid process · Petrosal process · Clivus Lateral surface: Carotid groove · Sphenoidal lingula Anterior surface: Sphenoidal sinuses Great wings foramina (Rotundum, Ovale, Vesalii, Spinosum) · Spine · Infratemporal crest · Sulcus for auditory tube Small wings Superior orbital fissure · Anterior clinoid process · Optic canal Pterygoid processes fossae (Pterygoid, Scaphoid) · pterygoid plates (Lateral, Medial) · Pterygoid canal · Hamulus Other Body · Sphenoidal conchae Ethmoid Plates Cribriform plate (Crista galli, Olfactory foramina) · Perpendicular plate Surfaces Lateral surface Orbital lamina · Uncinate process Medial surface Superior nasal concha · Superior meatus · Middle nasal concha · Middle meatus Labyrinth Ethmoid sinus · ethmoidal foramina (Posterior, Anterior)

This musculoskeletal system article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)