From this space, emissary veins can transmit infectious material to an intracranial location. Several attendees mentioned that they could anesthetize both the maxillary nerve and the mandibular nerve from injections into the infratemporal fossa. Thus, a few persons incorrrectly concluded that the maxillary nerve traversed foramen ovale. Mandibular nerve blocks are done by passing a needle through the mandibular notch and stopping the needle at the lateral pterygoid plate. At this location, the needle is at the opening of the foramen ovale.
Injection here anesthetizes the mandibular nerve.
If, instead of walking the needle posterior, the needle is angled anterior, the maxillary nerve is apt to be anesthetized. This is a strong hint. Suggest clinical procedures to test the functional components of the facial nerve. A patient has paralysis of the muscles of facial expression. There are salavitory deficits on the same side as the paralysis.