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infratemporal

infratemporal

9.8
The space under the bone on the side of the head near the jaw
  • noun
  • /ˌɪnfrəˈtɛmpərəl/
  • Specialized
: fosa infratemporal
  • The surgeon accessed the infratemporal fossa to better visualize the nerves around the jaw.

Examples

  • Stage III (the terminal stage) is characterized by brain, neck, infratemporal, and parapharyngeal space invasion, with or without metastasis.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Then when you come to the temporal cortex, you you come to infratemporal region that I just mentioned.

  • Because input coming into the right stride cortex can still get to the opposite infratemporal cortex.

  • In anatomy class, we learned about the infratemporal region and its importance in dental surgery.

  • The infratemporal area is often referred to when discussing the anatomy of the skull.

Surface Forms

infratemporal singular

Morphology

infratemporal = temporal (semi-transparent) = infra + temporal

Formally 'infra-' means 'below' and combined with 'temporal' yields the anatomical region 'below the temporal bone'; the term is literal but specialized.

Etymology

Infratemporal comes from infra- 'below' and temporal 'temple' (the side of the head). A helpful way to remember the noun infratemporal is that it names the space or area under the temple bone that doctors and surgeons may work on.