Temporal Bone

Have 5 parts:
Ø SQUAMOUS
Ø PETROUS
Ø TYMPANIC
Ø STYLOID
SQUAMOUS
PART
 Is a shell like plate
 Anterosuperiorly in bone
 Two surfaces: lateral (external)
medial (internal)
 Three borders: posterosuperior
inferior
anteroinferior
SQUAMOUS PART
Lateral surface
(Temporal surface)
Smooth and convex
From the external acoustic meatus upward, it is grooved by the
middle temporal artery
Postero-inferiorly, the supramastoid crest (temporal line) curves
backward and upward, bounding posteriorly the temporal fossa
and serving for the attachement of temporal fascia
Between the anterior end of supramastoid crest and the external
acoustic meatus is a depressed area called SUPRAMEATAL
TRIANGLE (MASTOID FOSSA, MACEWEN’S TRIANGLE),
marking the mastoid antrum.
SQUAMOUS PART
Lateral surface
(Temporal surface)
In front of the triangle, at the postero-superior margin of the
external meatus, is a small prominence named SUPRAMEATAL
SPINE (SPINE OF HENLE, MEATAL SPINE)
Behind the meatus, the temporal squama extends sharply
downward assisting in the formation of the upper (roof) and
posterior walls of the EXTERNAL ACOUSTIC MEATUS
From the lower portion of the squamous outer surface the
twisted zygomatic process arches forward.
It has two parts, anterior and posterior
 SQUAMOUS PART
Lateral surface
(Temporal surface)

The posterior part

triangular
its concave superior surface is continous with the outer squama
its inferior surface is bounded by anterior and posterior roots
The junction of two roots is the tubercle of zygomatic root, providing attachment to the
lateral temporomandibular ligament
the posterior root runs backward above the external auditory meatus and continues with
the supramastoid crest
SQUAMOUS
PART Lateral
surface (Temporal
surface)
The anterior root of zygomatic process runs
horzontally medialward to end in the rounded
ridge, the articular tubercle, forming the
anterior boundary of mandibular fossa
In front of the anterior root is a small
triangular area assisting in the formation of
the roof of infratemporal fossa
SQUAMOUS PART
Lateral surface
(Temporal surface)

The anterior part of zygomatic process has two

surfaces ( the convex lateral surface is
subcutaneous, and the concave medial surface
affords attachment to the masseter), two borders
( the superior border afford atachment to
temporal fascia and inferior border affords
attachment to masseter), and a serrated anterior
end (articulates with the temporal process of
zygomatic bone completing the zygomatic arch)
SQUAMOUS PART
Lateral surface
(Temporal surface)

The concave mandibular fossa (GLENOID FOSSA)

shows an anterior articular part formed by squamous
part of temporal and lodging the mandibular condyle,
and a posterior non-articular part formed by tympanic
part of temporal
The articular and non-articular parts are separated
laterally by the small postglenoid tubercle (MIDDLE
ROOF OF ZYGOMATIC PROCESS), and a medially
by a narrow slit, the SQUAMOTYMPANIC FISSURE
SQUAMOUS PART
Lateral surface
(Temporal surface)

At the medial end of fissure, its lips are separated by a

thin downgrowth from the tegmen tympani of petrous
temporal (the inferior process) in the lateral wall of the
bony auditory tube, forming petrosquamous and
petrotympanic fissure
THE PETROTYMPANIC FISSURE (GLASSERIAN
FISSURE) leads into the tympanic cavity and shows the
opening of the anterior canaliculus of the chorda tympani
transmitting the chorda tympani nerve (from facial nerve)
and anterior tympanic artery (from maxillary artery)
MEDIAL
SURFACE
(cerebral surface)
Concave
Shows cerebral markings representing the
impressions of the gyri of temporal lobe of the
cerebrum
PARIETAL BORDER
(POSTEROSUPERIOR AND
SUPERIOR BORDER)

Overlaps the inferior border of parietal bone,

completing the squamosal suture
SPHENOIDAL
BORDER (ANTERO-
INFERIOR BORDER)

Is thick and articulates withh the greater wing

of sphenoid, completing the sphenosquamosal
suture
INFERIOR
BORDER
 Continuous with tympanic
(squamotympanic fissure), petrous
(petrosquamous fissure, is often visible on the
internal aspect of temporal) and mastoid
(squamomastoid suture) parts of temporal
PETROUS
PART
 Elongated three-sided pyramid with its
apex directed medialward, forward and
slightly upward
 Three surfaces: anterior, posterior and
inferior
 Three borders: anterior, posterior and
superior
PETROUS PART-
ANTERIOR
SURFACE
Looks upward, forward and slightly lateralward
participates in the formation of the middle cranial fossa
 Is related to the lower TEMPORAL LOBE OF CEREBRUM
 Near the apex is the shallow trigeminal impression, lodging
the trigeminal (Gasserian) ganglion
 Anterolateral to the impression is the roof of the termination
of carotid canal, which is often deficient
PETROUS PART-
ANTERIOR
SURFACE
 Close to the middle of anterior surface is the
arcuate eminence, an elevation that marks the
anterior semicircular canal
 Anterolateral to the eminence is the thin
tegmen tympani, roofing, from behind
forward, THE MASTOID ANTRUM,
TIMPANIC CAVITY AND
MASCULOTUBAL CANAL (bony part of
auditory tube and tensor tympani canal)
PETROUS PART-
ANTERIOR
SURFACE
the lateral margin of tegmen is fused with the
temporal squama at the petrosquamosal suture, the
anterior margin of tegmen tympani descends to divide
the squamotympanic fissure
 In front of arcuate eminence is an oblique opening,
THE HIATUS FOR GREATER PETROSAL NERVE
(hiatus of the facial canal), transmitting the greater
petrosal nerve ( from facial nerve) and petrosal branch
(superficial petrosal artery) of the middle meningeal
artery
PETROUS PART-
ANTERIOR
SURFACE
Lateral to the hiatus of the facial canal is
another small opening often less visible, THE
HIATUS OF LESSER PETROSAL NERVE
(accesory facial hiatus), transmitting the lesser
petrosal nerve (from tympanic plexus) and
superior tympanic artery (which enters the
middle ear)
PETROUS
Looks backward and slightly medialward,
and participates in the formation of the
posterior cranial fossa, it is related to the

PART- cerebellum
 Close to its middle is an oval opening

POSTERIOR leading lateralward into a short canal, the

internal acoustic meatus, which transmits the

SURFACE
facial and vestibulocohlear nerves, and
labyrinthine artery (from anterior inferior
cerebellar artery)
PETROUS PART-
POSTERIOR
SURFACE
lateral and superior to the internal meatus is the
subarcuate fossa, a triangular depression below arcuate
eminence and behind the groove for greater petrosal
nerve, that shows the small opening of subarcuate canal
(petromastoid canal), leading into the mastoid cells and
transmitting subarcuate artery
lateral and below the subarcuate fossa is the slit-like
opening of the vestibular aqueduct hidden by an
overhanging plate of bone, transmitting the
endolymphatic duct
PETROUS PART-
INFERIOR SURFACE
(EXTERNAL SURFACE)

in front of this area, the petrous part and greater

sphenoidal wing bound a groove accomodating the
cartilaginous part of auditory tube (EUSTACHIAN
TUBE)
at the lateral end of tubal groove, at the junction
with temporal squama and behind the foramen
spinosum, lies the opening of musculotubal canal
behind the bony opening of the auditory tube is the
external orifice of carotid canal, carrying THE
INTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY
PETROUS PART-
INFERIOR SURFACE
(EXTERNAL SURFACE)

Behind the carotid canal is THE JUGULAR FOSSA

containing the superior bulb of the internal jugular vein
lateral in the fossa is the opening of the mastoid
canaliculus, running lateralward toward the facial canal
and carrying the auricular branch of vagus nerve
 On the ridge between jugular fossa and carotid canal is
the external opening of tympanic canaliculus, transmitting
the tympanic nerve (from glossopharyngeal) and inferior
tympanic artery
PETROUS PART-
INFERIOR SURFACE
(EXTERNAL SURFACE)

poteromedial to the tympanic canalicuhus, between

the jugular foramen and carotid canal is a small
triangular depression, the petrosal fossula, for the
inferior (petrous) glossopharyngeal ganglion
At the apex of fossula is the small orifice of the
cochlear aqueduct (canaliculus), leading into the
cochlea of inner ear, and carrying the perilymphatic
duct and a vein that drains the cochlea into the internal
jugular
PETROUS PART-
INFERIOR SURFACE
(EXTERNAL SURFACE)

Behind the styloid process, and between

mastoid process and jugular fossa, is the
stylomastoid foramen (termination of facial
canal) transmitting the facial nerve and
stylomastoid artery. The lateral part of the
inferior petrosal surface, in front of carotid
canal and jugular fossa, is fused with the
tympanic part of temporal
PETROUS PART-
SUPERIOR
BORDER
Is grooved by superior petrosal venous sinus
and gives attachment to the tentorium
cerebelli. Medially, it is notched by the roots
of trigeminal nerve.
PETROUS PART-
POSTERIOR
BORDER
Articulates, in its medial half, with the
basioccipital bone to complete the sulcus for
the inferior petrosal venous sinus. Laterally,
the posterior border is notched to complete the
jugular foramen; this notch bears the
intrajugular process of temporal bone,
contributing in the compartmentation of the
jugular foramen.
PETROUS PART-
ANTERIOR
BORDER
Continuous laterally with the temporal squama
at petrosquamosal suture, and articulates
medially with greater sphenoidal wing. At the
angle of junction of squamous and petrous parts
is the opening of the musculotubal canal, divided
into the tensor tympani canal and the bony part
of auditory tube (Eustachian tube), both leading
into the tynpanic cavity (middle car).
PETROUS
Is lodged into the angle between greater
sphenoidal wing and basilar part of occipital
and bears the internal (superior) orifice of the

PART-APEX carotid canal. The apex contributes to the

posterior boundary of foramen lacerum.
The triangular foramen lacerum is located
below the internal orifice of the carotid canal,
and is bounded by petrous temporal bone
posteriorly, sphenoidal greater wing and
pterygoid process anteriorly, sphenoidal body
and basi-occipital bone medially.
PETROUS
PART-APEX
Several structures pass in a horizontal direction along
the margins of lacerated foramen: deep petrosal nerve
(from internal carotid plexus, it runs forward through
the lateral part of the fibrocartilage), greater petrosal
nerve (from facial nerve, it runs forward through the
lateral part of the fibrocartilage), internal carotid artery
(runs forward above the fibrocartilage), branches of
the artery of pterygoid canal or vidian artery (run
backward through the anterior part of fibrocartilage).
PETROUS PART-
CONTENT

Acoustic labyrinth (internal ear), tympanic

cavity (middle ear), facial canal (Fallopian
aqueduct), musculotubal canal, internal
acoustic meatus, carotid canal, vestibular and
cochlear aqueducts, mastoid and tympanic
canaliculi.
MASTOID
PART
HAS TWO SURFACES
EXTERNAL
INTERNAL

FOUR BORDERS
SUPERIOR
INFERIOR
ANTERIOR
POSTERIOR
MASTOID PART-
EXTERNAL
SURFACE
Serves as attachment for auricularis posterior and
occipital belly of occipitofontalis. Near the posterior
border are many orifices, the largest (sometimes
absent) is mastoid foramen, transmitting an emissary
vein into the sigmoid sinus and one of the meningeal
branches of occipital artery. Inferiorly, the external
surface is continuous into a conical projection, the
mastoid process (greek 'mastos' meaning breast, the
mastoid process resembles a female breast in
appearance)
MASTOID PART-
EXTERNAL
SURFACE
The lateral aspect of the process gives
attachment to thè sternocleidomastoid,
splenius capitis and longissimus capitis. The
medial aspect of the mastoid process bears a
deep groove, the mastoid notch (digastric
fossa), for the attachment of the posterior
belly of digastric; medial to this groove is the
ocipital groove containing the occipital artery
MASTOID PART-
INTERNAL
SURFACE
Helps in the formation of the posterior cranial
fossa and bears a broad groove, the sulcus for
the sigmoid venous sinus. Behind this groove
is the mastoid foramen. Anteriorly, the inner
mastoid surface is fused with petrous part of
temporal.
MASTOID
Posterior border articulates with the lateral
border of occipital squama, forming the
occipito-mastoid suture
PART- Inferior border articulates with the lateral
border of jugular process of occipital bone
POSTERIOR (occipito-mastoid suture).

BORDER AND
INFERIOR
BORDER
MASTOID
Anterior border is fused with the descending
process of temporal squama and tympanic part
of temporal laterally, and forms the posterior

PART- wall oftympanic cavity medially.

Superior border articulates with the inferior

ANTERIOR border of parietal bone, forming the parieto-

mastoid suture.

AND
SUPERIOR
BORDER
MASTOID PART-
CONTENT

mastoid air cells and mastoid antrum

TYMPANIC
TWO SURFACES:
POSTEROSUPERIOR

PART ANTEROINFERIOR

FOUR BORDERS:
1. LATERAL
2. MEDIAL
3. SUPERIOR
4. INFERIOR
TYMPANIC Antero-inferior surface (anterior
surface), concave, forms the
PART non-articular part of mandibular
fossa and may contact the
parotid gland.

→ Posterosuperior surface
(posterior surface), concave,
forms the anterior, inferior and
partly posterior wallsof the
external acoustic meatus
TYMPANIC PART-
LATERAL AND
MEDIAL BORDER
Lateral border serves for attachment of the cartilaginous
part of the external acoustic meatus. Posteriorly, it is fused
with anterior border of mastojd part and descending
process of the squamous part, to complete
tympanomastoid fissure. This fissure bears the outer
opening of the mastoid canaliculus.
Medial border is fused with petrous part and appears in
the angle between petrous and squamous parts of
temporal, lying below the opening of musculotubal canal
TYMPANIC PART-
SUPERIOR AND
INFERIOR BORDER
Superior border articulates with the temporal squama to form
the squamotympanic fissure. The medial end of this fissure is
separated by the inferior process of tegmen tympani into
petrosquamous and petrotympanic fissures. The last one shows
the opening of the anterior canaliculus of the chorda tympani.

Inferior border is sharp and splits laterally to enclose the root

of styloid process, forming the vaginal process of styloid
process (sheath of the styloid process)
STYLOID
PART
Is a narrow downward and forward projection
from the junction of tympanic and petrous
parts. Its proximal part is ensheathed by the
vaginal process from the tympanic plate and
crossed laterally by the facial nerve. Its distal
part affords attachment for muscles
(styloglossus, stylohyoid and
stylopharyngeus) and ligaments (stylohyoid
and stylomandibular