Muscles of mastication Flashcards
What are the muscles used for closing the mouth?
Temporalis, masseter, mylohyoides and pterygoide
What are the muscles for opening the mouth?
Digastricus muscle
What is the innervation for the muscles of opening the mouth?
Mandibular nerve
What is the innervation of the muscle that helps open the mouth?
Rostral part - mandibular nerve
Caudal part - facial nerve
What is the action of the temporalis muscle?
O: Lateral surface of skull and I: coronoid process of the mandible
Therefore contraction will raise the mandible
Bigger in carnivore for shearing
What is the action of the masseter muscle?
Masseter muscle sits lateral to the mandibe
O: maxillary region and zygomatic arch and I: caudal part of the mandible
Which when contracted will raise the mandible and draw it to the side of action (side to side)
Bigger in herbivores
What is the action of the pterygoide muscle?
Runs medial to the mandible (wont see on superficial prosection)
O: Pterygopalatine bone
I: Mandible
It raises the mandible and draws it inwards
What is the action of digastricus muscle?
Originates: caudal to temporal mandibular join
I: ventral margin of mandible
Opens the mandible (assisted by gravity)