The temple is a recognizable, yet often vaguely understood, region on the side of the head. This relatively flat area is situated behind the eye socket, spanning the space between the forehead and the ear. This seemingly simple area conceals a complex intersection of bone, muscle, and blood vessels. Understanding the deeper structures reveals why the temple is both functional for chewing and a surprisingly vulnerable point on the human skull.
Defining the Anatomy
The temple region is defined by the convergence of four major cranial bones. These include the frontal bone (forehead), the parietal bone (roof and sides of the skull), the squamous part of the temporal bone (near the ear), and the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, which helps form the skull base. The temple’s boundary is marked by the bony arch of the zygomatic bone, or cheekbone, which runs horizontally toward the ear.
This bony framework provides structure and protection to the brain beneath. The temple is situated just above the zygomatic arch and anterior to the ear canal opening. This location means the bone is relatively thin compared to the thicker parts of the forehead or the back of the head. The convergence point of these four bones is particularly noteworthy, establishing the foundation for the deeper structures it protects.
The Hidden Structures
Moving inward, a large, fan-shaped muscle occupies the space within the bony architecture. This is the temporalis muscle, one of the primary muscles responsible for mastication, or chewing. The temporalis originates across the side of the skull and passes under the zygomatic arch to insert onto the lower jaw. When this muscle contracts, it elevates the mandible, closing the mouth and grinding food.
Beneath the temporalis muscle and the thin bony plate lies the middle meningeal artery. This major blood vessel supplies blood to the dura mater, the tough outer membrane covering the brain. The artery runs along the inner surface of the temporal bone, often lying in a shallow groove. Its close proximity to the skull’s inner wall means that a fracture can easily tear the artery, leading to a rapid accumulation of blood inside the skull.
Why the Temples Matter
The physical vulnerability of the temple is most pronounced at the Pterion, the point where the four cranial bones meet in an H-shape. This junction is the thinnest part of the lateral skull, providing less protection than surrounding areas. A focused blow to the Pterion can result in a depressed skull fracture with relatively little force.
This structural weakness is dangerous because of the underlying middle meningeal artery. A fracture at the Pterion can lacerate the artery, leading to an epidural hematoma. This condition involves blood pooling rapidly between the skull and the dura mater. The quickly increasing pressure on the brain is a life-threatening medical emergency requiring immediate surgical intervention.
The temple is also a common site for pain associated with everyday ailments. Tension headaches frequently manifest as a dull, aching pressure across both temples, often resulting from sustained contraction or clenching of the temporalis muscle.
Pain can also be a symptom of Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorder. The temporomandibular joint is located just in front of the ear, and dysfunction often causes referred pain that radiates upward. Since the temporalis muscle attaches to the jaw, problems with alignment or grinding can cause a deep, persistent ache perceived as originating from the temple.