Figure 3: Anatomy of the masticator space and adjacent or communicating compartments, together with delineation of the associations of the masticator space with the surrounding head and neck spaces. Dotted lines show the preferred common pathways of intra- and extraspatial extensions of the infection. In terms of odontogenic infections, note that an abscess into the parapharyngeal space always spreads laterally through the masseter and medial pterygoid muscle. The unique extension in the current case from the parapharyngeal space to the masticator space isindicated by the red arrow.