The temporal fossa is the space occupied by the temporalis muscle. Below, the infratemporal fossa is the space deep to the superior half of the mandibular ramus. It contains the:

• pterygoid muscles
• maxillary artery
• pterygoid plexus of veins
• otic ganglion
• branches of the mandibular nerve (CN V3)
• distal part of the chorda tympani.