Muscles of mastication

Question 1

What is the masseter?

Answer 1

muscle innervated by the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve; elevates the mandible

Question 2

What is the temporalis muscle?

Answer 2

large fan shaped muscle with anterior and posterior fibers innervated by the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve; anterior fibers elevate the mandible and the posterior fibers pull the jaw back

Question 3

What is the lateral pterygoid muscle?

Answer 3

muscle deep to the masseter muscle and superior to the medial pterygoid muscle; innervated by the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve. When it contracts bilaterally, it sticks the jaw out; when it contracts unilaterally, it moves the jaw side to side.

Question 4

What is the medial pterygoid muscle?

Answer 4

muscle deep to the lateral pterygoid muscle; innervated by the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve; when it contracts bilaterally, it closes the jaw and sticks it out with the lateral pterygoid muscle; when it contracts unilaterally, it moves jaws side to side