- The masticator space:
- Is one of the seven deep compartments of the head and neck
- Gross anatomy:
- The masticator space are:
- Paired suprahyoid cervical spaces:
- On each side of the face
- Paired suprahyoid cervical spaces:
- Each space is enveloped by:
- The superficial layer of the deep cervical fascia:
- The superficial layer of deep cervical fascia:
- Splits into two at the lower border of the mandible:
- The inner layer:
- Running deep to the medial pterygoid muscle and attaches to the skull base medial to foramen ovale and
- The outer layer:
- Covering the masseter and temporalis muscles and attaches to the parietal calvaria superiorly
- The inner layer:
- Splits into two at the lower border of the mandible:
- The superficial layer of deep cervical fascia:
- The superficial layer of the deep cervical fascia:
- The masticator space are:
- Contents:
- Muscles of mastication
- Ramus and body of mandible
- Inferior alveolar nerve
- Inferior alveolar vein and artery
- Mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (V3):
- Enters the masticator space:
- Via the foramen ovale
- Enters the masticator space:
- Pterygoid venous plexus
- Boundaries and relations:
- Anteriorly:
- The buccal space
- Posterolaterally:
- Parotid space
- Medially:
- Parapharyngeal space
- Anteriorly:
- Communications:
- Masticator space malignancies can spread perineurally:
- Via the mandibular division of the trigeminal (V3) nerve:
- Into the middle cranial fossa
- Via the mandibular division of the trigeminal (V3) nerve:
- Masticator space malignancies can spread perineurally:

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