From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Lateral pterygoid muscle

Muscle of mastication

Field	Value
Name	Lateral pterygoid muscle
Latin	musculus pterygoideus lateralis,
musculus pterygoideus externus
Image	Musculuspterygoideuslateralis.png
Caption	The Pterygoidei; the zygomatic arch and a portion of the ramus of the mandible have been removed (labeled as "pterygoideus externus", visible in pink at center)
Image2	Gray311.png
Caption2	Sagittal section of the temporomandibular joint (labeled as "pterygoideus externus", visible in gray at bottom left)
Origin	Superior head: infratemporal surface of sphenoid bone. Inferior head: lateral pterygoid plate
Insertion	Superior head: anterior side of the mandibular condyle. Inferior head: pterygoid fovea
Blood	Pterygoid branches of maxillary artery
Nerve	Lateral pterygoid nerve from mandibular nerve
Action	Depresses and protrudes mandible, side to side movement of mandible

musculus pterygoideus externus The lateral pterygoid muscle (or external pterygoid muscle) is a muscle of mastication. It has two heads. It lies superior to the medial pterygoid muscle. It is supplied by pterygoid branches of the maxillary artery, and the lateral pterygoid nerve (from the mandibular nerve, CN V3). It depresses and protrudes the mandible. When each muscle works independently, they can move the mandible side to side.

Structure

The lateral pterygoid muscle has an upper head and a lower head.

The upper head originates on the infratemporal surface and infratemporal crest of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone. It inserts onto the articular disc and fibrous capsule of the temporomandibular joint.
The lower head originates on the lateral surface of the lateral pterygoid plate. It inserts onto the pterygoid fovea at the neck of the condyloid process of the mandible.

It lies superior to the medial pterygoid muscle.

Blood supply

The lateral pterygoid muscle is supplied by pterygoid branches of the maxillary artery.

Nerve supply

The lateral pterygoid muscle is supplied by the lateral pterygoid nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3), itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V).

Function

The primary function of the lateral pterygoid muscle is to pull the head of the condyle out of the mandibular fossa along the articular eminence to protrude the mandible. A concerted effort of the lateral pterygoid muscles helps in lowering the mandible and opening the jaw. Unilateral action of a lateral pterygoid muscle causes contralateral excursion (a form of mastication), usually performed in concert with the medial pterygoids. When they work independently, they can move the mandible side to side.

Unlike the other three muscles of mastication, the lateral pterygoid alone can assist in depressing the mandible (opening the jaw). At the beginning of this action it is assisted by the digastric, mylohyoid and geniohyoid muscles.

Clinical significance

The lateral pterygoid muscle may be involved in temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

Additional images

File:Gray146.png|Sphenoid bone. Anterior and inferior surfaces. File:Gray177.png|Mandible. Inner surface. Side view. File:Gray510.png|Plan of branches of internal maxillary artery. File:Gray778.png|Distribution of the maxillary and mandibular nerves, and the submaxillary ganglion.

References

(1 April 2007). "The human lateral pterygoid muscle". [[Archives of Oral Biology]].
(2004). "The human lateral pterygoid muscle: A review of some experimental aspects and possible clinical relevance". Australian Dental Journal.

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

muscles-of-the-head-and-neck

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Lateral pterygoid muscle — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report