Muscles of Mastication (Acting on Temporomandibular Joint)

Muscle Origin Insertion Innervation Main Action

Temporails Floor of temporal Tip and medial surface Deep temporal Elevates mandible,
fossa and deep of coronoid process and branches of closing jaws; posterior
surface of temporal anterior border of ramus mandibular nerve fibers retrude mandible
fascia of mandible (CN V3) after protrusion

Masseter Inferior border and Lateral surface of ramus Mandibular nerve Elevates and protrudes
medial surface of of mandible and (CN V3) through mandible, thus closing
zygomatic arch coronoid process masseteric nerve jaws; deep fibers retrude
that enters deep it
surface of the
muscle

Lateral Superior head: Neck of mandible, Mandibular nerve Acting bilaterally,

pterygoid infratemporal articular disc, and (CN V3) through protrude mandible and
surface and capsule of lateral pterygoid depress chin; Acting
infratemporal crest temporomandibular joint nerve which unilaterally alternately,
of greater wing of enters its deep they produce side-to-side
sphenoid bone surface movements of mandible
Inferior head:
lateral surface of
lateral pterygoid
plate

Medial Deep head: medial Medial surface of ramus Mandibular nerve Helps elevate mandible,
pterygoid surface of lateral of mandible, inferior to (CN V3) through closing jaws; acting
pterygoid plate and mandibular foramen medial pterygoid bilaterally protrude
pyramidal process of nerve mandible; acting
palatine bone unilaterally, protrudes
Superficial head: side of jaw; acting
tuberosity of maxilla alternately, they produce
a grinding motion

Oral Physiology Assignment

By Noor Al-Deen M. Al-Khanati