Masticator Space Overview

Summary Thoughts: Masticator Space

The 3 most frequently encountered abnormalities in the masticator space (MS) are infection, infection, and infection. Odontogenic infection should always cross the clinician's mind 1st when evaluating abnormalities in this space.

When evaluating tumors of the MS, the presence of perineural CNV3 tumor spread is of critical importance because it is easily overlooked but can have a dramatic effect on treatment and prognosis.

The MS includes the posterior body and ramus of the mandible, the 4 muscles of mastication (masseter, temporalis, medial pterygoid, lateral pterygoid), and the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve (CNV3). It has greater extension in the craniocaudal dimension than commonly recognized, as it reaches from the bottom of the mandible nearly to the vertex of the skull.

The MS is divided at the level of the zygomatic arch into the suprazygomatic MS ( temporal fossa ) and the infrazygomatic MS ( infratemporal fossa ).