What Is the Temporal Fascia?

The temporal fascia is a type of connective tissue that attaches to the superior temporal line and the zygomatic arch, both of which are found in the human skull. Part of the temporal fascia merges with the temporalis muscle and aids in forming the muscle's attachment points.

Temporal aponeurosis is another name for the temporal fascia. Aponeurotic tissue is a kind of connective tissue that's very strong, fibrous, flat, and broad. This tissue covers muscles, and it also forms attachment and terminal, or ending, points of muscles.

The temporalis muscle is located on the side of the head in the temple region. Its muscular contractions can be felt while chewing when a hand is placed on the temple. The temporal aponeurosis sits on top of the temporalis muscle in the region of the temporal fossa, which is a concavity of the temporal bone that's located on the side of the skull.

The deep tissues of the temporal fascia connect to the superficial tissue of the temporalis muscle, allowing the muscle to make attachments. Without the connection to the temporal aponeurosis, the temporalis muscle wouldn't be able to form an attachment to the inferior temporal line, located above the temporal bone on the side of the head. There is one temporal bone on both sides of the skull. The lower, or inferior, attachment to the coronoid process of the mandible, or jawbone, would also not be possible without this merging of muscle and connective tissue.

The entire length of the superior temporal line forms the upper attachment of the temporal aponeurosis. The superior temporal line sits just above the inferior temporal line. Both lines are located on the side of the skull above the temporal bone. In this region, the temporal fascia is a single layer of tissue. As it extends downward toward the jaw, the temporal fascia splits into two layers.

Both of the lower layers of the temporal fascia attach to the zygomatic arch, which is commonly called the cheekbone. This arch is formed by the connection of a lower extension of the temporal bone, called the zygomatic process, and the zygomatic bone, which is the part of the cheekbone area located under the eye. One layer of the temporal fascia attaches to the lateral, meaning the side, portion of the zygomatic arch, and the second layer attaches to the medial, meaning the middle, portion of the zygomatic arch.