Anatomy of the Face - Flipbook - Page 29
Facial (Craniofacial) Muscles Overview
Muscles of Mastication
The muscles of mastication are a group of muscles that consist of the temporalis, masseter, medial pterygoid and lateral pterygoid
muscles. The temporalis muscle is situated in the temporal fossa, the masseter muscle in the cheek area, while the medial and
lateral pterygoids lie in the infratemporal fossa.
The masticatory muscles attach to the mandible, and thus produce movements of the lower jaw at the temporomandibular joint
(TMJ) to enable functions such as chewing and grinding. These movements include:
•Protrusion (protraction), which moves the mandible forwards.
•Retraction, which pulls the mandible backwards.
•Elevation, which elevates the mandible and closes the mouth.
•Depression, which depresses the mandible and opens the mouth.
•Rotation, which produces side-to-side movements of the mandible.
All muscles of mastication are innervated by motor fibers of the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V3) mandibular
branch of trigeminal nerve (CN V3), while the main arterial supply is derived from branches of the maxillary artery.
Unlike muscles of facial expression, the muscles of mastication attach to the bone at either end – origin and insertion – to produce
action.
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