Lateral pterygoid muscle

Lateral pterygoid muscle

Infobox Muscle
Name = PAGENAME
Latin = m. pterygoideus lateralis, m. pterygoideus externus
GraySubject = 109
GrayPage = 386

| 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.)

| Caption2 = Sagittal section of the articulation of the mandible. (Labeled as "pterygoideus externus", visible in gray at bottom right.)
Origin = Great wing of sphenoid and pterygoid plate
Insertion = Condyle of mandible
Blood = pterygoid branches of maxillary artery
Nerve = lateral pterygoid nerve from the mandibular nerve
Action = depresses mandible
Antagonist =
MeshName = Pterygoid+Muscles
MeshNumber = A02.633.567.600.700
DorlandsPre = m_22
DorlandsSuf = 12550292
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 is assisted by the digastric, mylohyoid and geniohyoid muscles.


=Additional

External links

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* (NormanAnatomyFig|musclesofmastication2)
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* [http://iris3.med.tufts.edu/medgross/hd5ans.htm Cross section at tufts.edu]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • lateral pterygoid muscle — n PTERYGOID MUSCLE (a) …   Medical dictionary

  • pterygoid muscle — n either of two muscles extending from the sphenoid bone to the lower jaw: a) a muscle that arises from the greater wing of the sphenoid bone and from the outer surface of the lateral pterygoid plate, is inserted into the condyle of the mandible… …   Medical dictionary

  • pterygoid muscle — noun muscle descending from the sphenoid bone to the lower jaw • Hypernyms: ↑skeletal muscle, ↑striated muscle * * * noun : either of two muscles extending from the sphenoid bone to the lower jaw: a. : an external muscle that arises from the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Lateral pterygoid nerve — Infobox Nerve Name = PAGENAME Latin = n. pterygoideus externus n. pterygoideus lateralis GraySubject = 200 GrayPage = 895 Caption = Distribution of the maxillary and mandibular nerves, and the submaxillary ganglion. Caption2 = Innervates =… …   Wikipedia

  • inferior head of lateral pterygoid muscle — caput inferius musculi pterygoidei lateralis …   Medical dictionary

  • lower head of lateral pterygoid muscle — caput inferius musculi pterygoidei lateralis …   Medical dictionary

  • superior head of lateral pterygoid muscle — caput superius musculi pterygoidei lateralis …   Medical dictionary

  • upper head of lateral pterygoid muscle — caput superius musculi pterygoidei lateralis …   Medical dictionary

  • Medial pterygoid muscle — Medial pterygoid The Pterygoidei; the zygomatic arch and a portion of the ramus of the mandible have been removed. (Internus is visible at center bottom.) …   Wikipedia

  • pterygoid plate — n either of two vertical plates making up a pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone: 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… …   Medical dictionary

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