Temporal bone (lateral view) (Latin)

There are several surface landmarks to be seen on the lateral view of the os temporale. The outer surface of the os temporale is smooth and convex. Its main parts are demarcated by several fissures, such as the fissura petrosquamosa, which separates the pars squamosa and pars petrosa; the fissura tympanosquamosa, separating the pars tympanica and pars squamosa, and others. The processus zygomaticus, a long, arched process, can also be appreciated, projecting from the lower part of the pars squamosa. You can also visualize some notable features of the os temporale from this perspective, such as the fissura petrotympanica leading into the cavitas tympani. It lodges the anterior process of the malleus, and transmits the a. tympanica anterior, a branch of the a. maxillaris.