See Also: alpha decay(encyclopedia)
infratemporal(medicine)
infratemporal fossa(medicine)
infratemporal crest(medicine)
Herbal medicine (botanical medicine, herbology, phytomedicine)(health)
infratemporal surface of maxilla(medicine)
alpha-hydroxymethyl-alpha'-(N-acetylaminomethylene)succinic acid hydrolase(medicine)
15-hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic acid(medicine)
5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha-diol 26-hydroxylase(medicine)
cholesterol-5 alpha,6 alpha-epoxide hydrase(medicine)

infratemporal fossa (medicine) and alpha decay (sh)


infratemporal fossa (medicine)


infratemporal fossa


The cavity on the side of the skull bounded laterally by the zygomatic arch and ramus of the mandible, medially by the lateral pterygoid plate, anteriorly by the zygomatic process of the maxilla, posteriorly by the articular tubercle of the temporal bone and the posterior border of the lateral pterygoid plate, and above by the squama of the temporal bone and the infratemporal crest on the greater wing of the sphenoid bone.

Synonym: fossa infratemporalis, zygomatic fossa.


alpha decay (sh)




Type of radioactive disintegration (see radioactivity) in which some unstable atomic nuclei dissipate excess energy by spontaneously ejecting an alpha particle.

Alpha particles have two positive charges and a mass of four atomic mass units; they are identical to helium nuclei. Though they are emitted at speeds about one-tenth that of light, they are not very penetrating and have ranges in air of about 1-4 in. (2.5-10 cm). Alpha decay commonly occurs in elements with atomic numbers greater than 83 (bismuth), but can occur in some rare-earth elements in the atomic-number range of 60 (neodymium) to 71 (lutetium). Alpha decay half-lives range from about a microsecond (10-6 second) to billions of years (1017 seconds).