The temple is the region on the side of the head situated between the lateral corner of the eye and the ear. It is a soft, slightly depressed area easily felt beneath the skin. This surface area covers a complex anatomical space known as the temporal fossa. The anatomy beneath the skin is one of the most structurally significant and vulnerable areas of the human skull, defined by specific bony and vascular structures.
Precise Location and Boundaries
The anatomical location of the temple is defined by the borders of the temporal fossa, a shallow depression on the side of the skull. Superior and posterior boundaries are marked by the temporal lines, which are faint, curved ridges arching across the skull. The inferior boundary is the zygomatic arch, or cheekbone, a bony bridge extending toward the ear. Anteriorly, the temple is framed by the frontal bone (forehead) and the frontal process of the zygomatic bone, separating the temple area from the eye socket. This arrangement creates a defined space containing important muscles and blood vessels.
Underlying Anatomy and Vulnerability
The bony floor of the temporal fossa is a meeting point for four skull bones: the frontal, parietal, temporal, and sphenoid bones. This crucial junction, located a few centimeters behind the eye and above the cheekbone, is known as the Pterion. The Pterion is structurally thin, making it the weakest point on the side of the skull.
The thinness of the bone at the Pterion contributes to the temple’s vulnerability. Just deep to this bony confluence lies the anterior division of the Middle Meningeal Artery, which supplies blood to the dura mater, the tough outer membrane covering the brain. The temporalis muscle, a primary muscle used for chewing, covers the temporal fossa, offering slight cushioning. However, blunt force trauma to the temple can easily fracture the Pterion, risking laceration of the underlying Middle Meningeal Artery. This leads to a rapid accumulation of blood outside the dura mater, a life-threatening condition called an epidural hematoma.
Common Medical Relevance
Pain in the temple region is a common symptom associated with various conditions, including tension headaches and migraines. These headaches often manifest as a throbbing or pressure sensation concentrated in the temporal area due to muscle tension or vascular changes.
The temple is also the site of a severe medical condition known as Temporal Arteritis, or Giant Cell Arteritis. This condition involves the inflammation and swelling of the temporal arteries, which run just beneath the skin on the side of the head. Symptoms include a persistent, new-onset headache, tenderness over the temples, and jaw pain that occurs while chewing. This condition is serious because the inflamed arteries can restrict blood flow to the eyes. If not treated immediately with corticosteroids, this restriction can lead to sudden and permanent vision loss. Due to the proximity of the Middle Meningeal Artery, the temple area remains a focus for immediate medical attention following any significant head trauma.