Which are functions of the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles?
The medial pterygoid muscle attaches to the angle of the mandible and to the lateral pterygoid plate to form a sling with the masseter muscle that suspends the mandible (Figure 6-19). The primary action is to elevate the mandible and laterally deviate it to the opposite side.
What is the main function of the lateral pterygoid?
Function. Being a masticatory muscle, the lateral pterygoid aids in chewing and biting actions by controlling the movements of the mandible. The sphenoid attachment of the muscle is always fixed, meaning that the direction of pull is oriented towards it.
What movements do the medial and lateral Pterygoids perform?
In contrast, the unilateral contraction of the medial pterygoid, together with lateral pterygoid, causes the swinging of the mandible to the opposite side. These movements are crucial for the act of chewing.
What are the functions of the two heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle?
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….
| Lateral pterygoid muscle | |
|---|---|
| Actions | depresses and protrudes mandible, side to side movement of mandible |
| Identifiers |
Which are functions of the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles quizlet?
Two-headed, fan-shaped muscle located in the infratemporal fossa of the skull. It is one of the four masticatory muscles, along with the medial pterygoid, temporalis and masseter muscles. All these muscles act upon the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) to enable chewing (mastication) and biting.
What is the action of the lateral pterygoid?
Lateral Pterygoid. Depresses and protracts mandible to open mouth. Pulls forward cartilage of joint during opening of mouth. Aids in chewing.
What makes the lateral pterygoid muscle different from the other muscles of mastication?
Unlike the jaw-closing muscles, this jaw depressor does not contain muscle spindles. Due to the absence of muscle spindles, the lateral pterygoid muscle plays a secondary role during the mandibular depression.
Which muscles help move the jaw during mastication?
The masseter muscle is one of four muscles of mastication and has the primary role of closing the jaw in conjunction with two other jaw closing muscles, the temporalis and medial pterygoid muscles. The fourth masticatory muscle, the lateral pterygoid, causes jaw protrusion and jaw opening when activated.
What are the chewing muscles?
Muscles of mastication
- Masseter.
- Temporalis.
- Lateral pterygoid.
- Medial pterygoid.
What are the functions of the muscles of mastication?
The muscles of mastication are a group of muscles responsible for the chewing movement of the mandible at the temporomandibular (TMJ) joint, they enhance the process of eating, they assist in grinding food, and also function to approximate the teeth.
How does the lateral pterygoid open the jaw?
The lateral pterygoid muscle depresses the mandible and opens the mouth when assisted by the anterior belly of the digastric muscle and the mylohyoid muscle.
What four muscles control lower jaw movement?
Which four muscles control movement of the lower jaw? masseter, the temporalis, the medial pterygoid, and the lateral pterygoid.
What muscles are used in opening and closing your jaw?
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.