The human maxillary artery reinvestigated: I. Topographical relations in the infratemporal fossa

The topographical relations of the human maxillary artery (IM) in the infratemporal fossa were studied in 102 individuals of both sexes. In the majority of the cases (55.4%), the artery was found in a lateral position to the lower head of the lateral pterygoid muscle (LPTER). In most of these specimens, the IM ran also lateral to the inferior alveolar, lingual and buccal nerves (type LA, 37.2%), whereas in 16.1% only the buccal nerve crossed the IM laterally (type LB). In 4.6%, the artery occupied a medial position to the LPTER. With respect to the branches of the mandibular nerve, an IM, passing deep to the LPTER, was lying either lateral to its main sensory branches (type MA, 1.9%) or coursing lateral to the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves, but medial to the buccal nerve (type MB, 23.8%). In 4.9%, the artery, running medial to the LPTER and the buccal nerve, was found to pierce the inferior alveolar nerve (type MC). In 7.4%, the IM was running medial to both the inferior alveolar and buccal nerves, but lateral to the lingual nerve (type MD), and in 3.9% the IM passed deep to all the branches of the mandibular nerve (type ME). Besides those common anatomical patterns, seven specimens showed different variations of the mandibular nerve. In about one third of the individuals, an asymmetric position of the IM to the LPTER (LM or ML) was present. None of the four cephalometric parameters and the two cephalic indices recorded in 55 individuals showed a significant correlation to the actual position of the IM (lateral or medial).