Disease from surrounding structures can invade the masticator space via the pterygopalatine fossa, the buccal space immediately anterior to the ramus, the foramen ovale, or by way of direct invasion.
The oral surfaces covered by non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium include the buccal mucosa, the floor of the mouth, the lateral and ventral (or bottom) surfaces of the tongue, the soft palate, and the retromolar trigone.