Morphometric analysis of the infratemporal fossa using three-dimensional (3D) digital models

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Morphometry
• Skull Morphology

Background:

• The infratemporal fossa is anatomically significant, housing vital neurovascular structures.
• Its morphometric distances are not well-documented, hindering clinical and educational applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the morphometry of the infratemporal fossa.
• To investigate sex-based and side-specific differences in fossa dimensions.

Main Methods:

• Reconstruction of 83 individuals' skulls using 3D models from DICOM datasets.
• Measurement of infratemporal fossa length, depth, and width.
• Statistical comparison of measurements between genders and between right and left sides.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in all measured dimensions were found between males and females.
• Significant differences in depth and width were observed between the left and right sides.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first comprehensive morphometric analysis of the infratemporal fossa.
• Findings offer valuable data for surgical interventions, differential diagnoses, and medical education regarding this region.