Everything about Lateral Pterygoid Muscle totally explained
The
lateral pterygoid (or
external pterygoid) is a muscle of
mastication with two heads.
Origin and insertion
The upper/superior head originates on the infratemporal surface and infratemporal crest of the greater wing of the
sphenoid bone, and the lower/inferior head on the lateral surface of the
lateral pterygoid plate.
Both heads insert onto the
pterygoid fovea under the
condyloid process of the
mandible; the
articular disc and
fibrous capsule of the
TMJ.
Innervation
The lateral pterygoid nerve - The mandibular branch of the fifth cranial nerve, the
trigeminal nerve, innervates the lateral pterygoid muscle.
Function
It acts to lower the mandible, open the jaw, and help the
medial pterygoids in moving the jaw from side to side (
mastication).
Unlike the other three muscles of mastication, the lateral pterygoid is the only one that opens the jaw, or depresses the mandible. At the beginning of this action it's assisted by the
digastric,
mylohyoid and
geniohyoid muscles.
Additional images
Image:Gray146.png|Sphenoid bone. Anterior and inferior surfaces.
Image:Gray177.png|Mandible. Inner surface. Side view.
Image:Gray510.png|Plan of branches of internal maxillary artery.
Image:Gray778.png|Distribution of the maxillary and mandibular nerves, and the submaxillary ganglion.
Further Information
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