Muscles of mastication
Learning objectives
After completing this study unit you will be able to:
- Name the muscles of mastication and describe their different parts.
- Describe the attachments, innervation and function of the muscles involved in chewing.
Watch video
The muscles of mastication are a group of four muscles: the temporalis, masseter, medial pterygoid and lateral pterygoid. These muscles produce movements of the mandible, or lower jaw, at the temporomandibular joints, thus enabling functions such as chewing and grinding.
Curious about the muscles of mastication? Check out the video below to learn more about this subject.
Take a quiz
Solidify your knowledge about the muscles of mastication by taking the following quiz.
Do you want to challenge yourself further? Customize your own quiz to get a broader collection of questions. Below you will find a quiz about all structures of the head, that you can modify to your own liking!
Browse atlas
:watermark(/images/watermark_5000_10percent.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/overview_image/549/0UcuXPEzVyOFwWbeIvG8pA_muscles-of-mastication_english.jpg){kind=logo}
Review what you learned today in the gallery below!
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-masseter/jgE3c73f9mnWIUUlafELQ_Masseter_muscle_01.png "Masseter muscle (Musculus masseter); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-masseter-pars-superficialis/oAPdPmNbdtw72ztxq0pZg_Masseter_muscle_-_pars_superficialis_01.png "Superficial part of masseter muscle (Pars superficialis musculi masseteris); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-masseter-pars-profunda/kUsSulb9IID67NZISCiTA_Masseter_muscle_-_pars_profunda_01.png "Deep part of masseter muscle (Pars profunda musculi masseteris); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-temporalis/Vc1ICDIQi6PinabT9JHbIA_Temporalis_muscle_01.png "Temporalis muscle (Musculus temporalis); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-pterygoideus-lateralis/PaZtUXxbiFuMYakhBzQ_musculus-pterygoideus-lateralis.jpg "Lateral pterygoid muscle (Musculus pterygoideus lateralis); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-pterygoideus-lateralis-pars-superior/0hf6HhtXCPiyxKAQOYHuoQ_musculus-pterygoideus-lateralis-pars-superior.jpg "Superior head of lateral pterygoid muscle (Caput superius musculi pterygoidei lateralis); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-pterygoideus-lateralis-pars-inferior/fuJuGb4eanOBUkudzL3w_musculus-pterygoideus-lateralis-pars-inferior.jpg "Inferior head of lateral pterygoid muscle (Caput inferius musculi pterygoidei lateralis); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-pterygoideus-medialis/PxD0tEue6STBCSYLsWpwA_869_muscles_of_mastication_lateral_pterygoid_medial_pterygoid_lateral_view.jpg "Medial pterygoid muscle (Musculus pterygoideus medialis); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-pterygoideus-medialis-pars-superficialis/pJLOv1i0Axgl5JqBpb8cg_Musculus_pterygoideus_medialis__Musculus_pterygoideus_internus_.jpg "Superficial head of medial pterygoid muscle (Caput superficiale musculi pterygoidei medialis); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-pterygoideus-medialis-pars-profunda/pvb1QIKwILbibJEtdLbA_musculus-pterygoideus-medialis-pars-profunda.jpg "Deep head of medial pterygoid muscle (Caput profundum musculi pterygoidei medialis); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Definition and function | Muscles of mastication describe a group of muscles that attach to the mandible and thereby produce movements of the lower jaw. |
| Muscles | Temporalis, masseter, medial pterygoid and lateral pterygoid |
| Innervation | Mandibular nerve (CN V3) |
Well done!
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