Following a subtotal petrosectomy, proceeding with drilling along the glenoid fossa and exposure of the petrous tip and clivus. At the end of this approach, abdominal fat is put into the cavity if it is not communicating with the nasopharynx, and a “blind sac” closure of the external auditory canal is carried out.

An infratemporal fossa “type B” approach is mainly carried out for pathologies on the petrous or clivus, such as epidermoid cysts or chordoma.

The left side of a cadaver, including the base of the skull, has been dissected to present the infratemporal fossa “type B” approach comprehensively. The important anatomical structures have been exposed and dyed for illustrative purposes. The figure displays a general view of the surgical site in the completed infratemporal fossa “type B” approach.

C: Cochlea

FN: Facial nerve

HSC: Horizontal semicircular canal

ICA: Internal carotid artery

MCF: Middle cranial fossa (dural plate)

MMA: Middle meningeal artery

MN: Mandibular nerve

PSC: Posterior semicircular canal

SS: Sigmoid sinus

SSC: Superior semicircular canal

TTM: Tensor tympani muscle