Asked by: Esneider Zieschang

Asked in category: medical health, ear nose and throat conditions, medical health, ear nose and throat conditions

Last Updated: 3rd Jul 2024

What is the lateral pterygoid muscle?

The lateral pterygoid (sometimes called the exterior pterygoid muscles) is one of the muscles that allows for mastication. This is a fancy way to say chewing. It is a small, thick, muscle that is located on the side of the skull, just above the temples.

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What movements do the medial lateral pterygoid muscle perform?

The lateral pterygoid muscles work together to lower the mandible, and open the jaw. However, unilateral action by a lateral proterygoid causes contralateral excursion (a form mastication), which is usually performed in concert.

How does the lateral-pterygoid muscle depress the mandible, in addition? The inferior belly functions to open the mouth, depress the mandible and protrude the mandible. It also aids in sideward movement. It is inactive when the mouth is closed. The lateral pterygoid muscles superior belly contracts when the mouth closes and the teeth become clenched.

Another question is: Where can I find lateral pterygoids?

Most people with TMJ problems or bruxism feel the lateral pterygoid muscles are very tender. Place your index finger in the mouth to palpate. Press down in a cranial direction, just below the zygomatic ar. Compare the tenderness of the lateral pterygoids on the left and right.

What muscle opens the jaw?

The jaw is raised by the masseter, which closes the mouth. The temporalis raises and retracts your jaw. The lateral, pterygoid muscle is the only one that opens the jaw. The medial pterygoid lifts and closes your jaw.

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What causes masseter muscle pain?

It is caused by tension, fatigue, or spasm in the masticatory muscles (medial or internal and lateral or external pterygoids, temporalis, and masseter). The muscle pain from trigger points in the affected muscle causing the disorder usually is the result of nocturnal bruxism (clenching or grinding of the teeth).

What is the pterygoid muscle?

Function. The pterygoid muscles are muscles of mastication and serve the movement of the temporomandibular joint. The contraction of the medial pterygoid elevates the mandible (jaw closure) and moves it forward (protrusion).

How do you stretch medial pterygoid?

To actively stretch the medial pterygoid, the patient lies supine and places two fingers behind the lower incisor teeth and the thumb under the chin, and by pulling the mandible forward and down, the patient opens the jaw fully. The opposite hand is placed on the forehead to stabilize the head and neck.

What muscles elevate the mandible?

Key Points

The masseter elevates the jaw, closing the mouth.
The temporalis elevates and retracts the jaw.
The lateral pterygoid is the only muscle of mastication that actively opens the jaw.
The medial pterygoid elevates and closes the jaw, contributes to protrusion of the mandible, and assists in mastication.

What does the medial pterygoid do?

The function of a muscle is usually associated with the part of the body to which the muscles attaches. Since the medial pterygoid muscle attaches to the lower jaw, the function of this muscle is to move the lower jaw. Specifically, the medial pterygoid muscle functions to: Raise/elevate the lower jaw.

What muscles protract the mandible?

Preview Flashcards

Front	Back
Which two muscles protact and elevate the mandible?	The medial pterygoid and masseter both elevate and protract the mandible
Which muscle is the prime mover of jaw closure?	The masseter is the prime mover of jaw closure

What muscle moves jaw side to side?

medial pterygoid muscle

How do you palpate a masseter muscle?

Palpation of trigger points in the masseter muscle can be performed by pressing the muscle against the mandible with the mouth open. Trigger points in the deep layer are located by palpation against the posterior portion of the ramus and along the zygomatic buttress.

What is a Pterygoid plate?

a : a broad thin plate that forms the lateral part of the pterygoid process and gives attachment to the lateral pterygoid muscle on its lateral surface and to the medial pterygoid muscle on its medial surface. — called also lateral pterygoid plate.

What are the muscles of mastication?

The masticatory muscles (or muscles of mastication) are responsible for the chewing movements of the mandible or lower jaw.

There are four masticatory muscles on each side of the head:

masseter,
temporalis,
lateral pterygoid,
medial pterygoid.

Which term refers to a jaw muscle that runs vertically?

The temporal muscle is the most powerful muscle of the temporomandibular joint. The temporal muscle can be divided into two functional parts; anterior and posterior. The anterior portion runs vertically and its contraction results in elevation of the mandible (closing the mouth).

What attaches to medial pterygoid plate?

The medial pterygoid plate (or medial pterygoid lamina) of the sphenoid bone is a horse-shoe shaped process that arises from its underside. The pharyngeal aponeurosis is attached to the entire length of the posterior edge of the medial plate, and the constrictor pharyngis superior takes origin from its lower third.

What is mandibular protrusion?

Mandibular prognathism is a protrusion of the mandible, affecting the lower third of the face. Alveolar prognathism is a protrusion of that portion of the maxilla where the teeth are located, in the dental lining of the upper jaw.

Where is the jaw muscle?

Your masseter muscle is your primary chewing muscle — not the only one,1 but the main one — and it covers the sides of the jaw just behind the cheeks. And so it's also the muscle that clenches your jaw and grinds your teeth, unfortunately, and it's one of the most common locations for trigger points in the human body.

What produces lateral grinding movements of the jaw?

The jaw closing and grinding lateral movement of chewing are the result of the function of the masseter, temporal, medial pterygoid, and lateral pterygoid muscles.

What does the Buccinator muscle do?

The buccinator compresses the cheeks against the teeth and is used in acts such as blowing. It is an assistant muscle of mastication (chewing) and in neonates it is used to suckle.

What is the lateral pterygoid muscle?

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