The term “temple” often brings to mind grand structures of worship, but in human anatomy, it refers to an important region on the side of the head. This area, while seemingly unassuming, is a significant part of the cranium. It plays a role in various bodily functions and is recognized for its particular vulnerability. Understanding the anatomical temple involves exploring its location, the structures it houses, and why it warrants careful consideration regarding injury and medical conditions.
Where is the Temple Located
The anatomical temple is situated on each side of the head, forming a relatively flat region. It is found behind the eye, positioned between the forehead and the ear. This area extends above the cheekbone, superior to the zygomatic arch. The temple is bordered by several other facial and cranial features.
What’s Inside the Temple
The temple region encases several important anatomical structures, including an intersection of bones, a muscle, and blood vessels and nerves. Four cranial bones meet here at a point known as the pterion: the frontal bone, parietal bone, temporal bone, and the greater wing of the sphenoid bone. This convergence forms an H-shaped suture line. Covering much of this bony framework is the temporalis muscle, a broad, fan-shaped muscle essential for chewing and jaw movement.
Beneath these structures, specifically under the pterion, lies the anterior division of the middle meningeal artery. This artery is a major blood supply to the dura mater, the outer protective membrane of the brain. The temple region also contains branches of the trigeminal nerve, the fifth cranial nerve, which provides sensation to large parts of the face and controls some muscles involved in chewing. Its mandibular branch supplies motor fibers to the temporalis muscle.
The Temple’s Vulnerability
The temple is a vulnerable area of the skull due to the characteristics of its bony structure and underlying important components. The skull bones at the pterion are notably thin, offering less protection compared to other areas of the cranium. A direct impact to this region can easily fracture these delicate bones.
Furthermore, the middle meningeal artery, which runs just beneath the pterion, is highly susceptible to injury from such trauma. Because this artery lies close to the inner surface of the skull, a fracture in this area can rupture it. Such an arterial tear can cause rapid bleeding between the skull and the dura mater, leading to an epidural hematoma. This bleeding can quickly build pressure on the brain, potentially resulting in severe neurological consequences if not treated promptly.
Conditions Affecting the Temple
The temple region can be affected by various medical conditions, from common discomforts to serious emergencies. Headaches frequently manifest in the temple area, with tension headaches being a common cause, often described as a dull, non-throbbing pain. Migraines can also cause severe, throbbing pain in the temples, sometimes accompanied by sensitivity to light or sound. Temporal arteritis, also known as giant cell arteritis, involves inflammation of the arteries, particularly those in the temples. This condition can cause persistent headaches, scalp tenderness, and jaw pain, and requires urgent treatment to prevent vision loss.
Trauma to the temple can lead to an epidural hematoma. Symptoms such as loss of consciousness, followed by a period of alertness, then rapid deterioration, may indicate an epidural hematoma, necessitating immediate medical attention. Issues with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or sinus infections can also cause pain or pressure localized to the temples.