Superior View of the Middle Fossa Structures and Portions of the Internal Carotid Artery. The tentorium was removed, exposing the cerebellum. The temporal fossa floor was partially drilled out, exposing the lateral pterygoid muscle in the infratemporal fossa. The gasserian ganglion was removed as well as the roof and lateral wall of the orbit. 1, lateral pterygoid muscle (upper head) in the infratemporal fossa; 2, pterygoid venous plexus; 3, lateral semicircular canal; 4, posterior semicircular canal; 5, superior semicircular canal; 6, cochlea; 7, internal carotid artery (intrapetrous portion); 8, internal carotid artery (intracavernous portion); 9, meningohypophyseal trunk; 10, internal carotid artery (subclinoidal portion). (Image courtesy of E de Oliveira)