Muscles of Mastication
The muscles of mastication are involved in the process of chewing. They are innervated by the Mandibular Nerve (CN V3), the third branch of the Trigeminal Nerve (Cranial Nerve V). The arterial supply is from the second part of the maxillary artery and the venous drainage is into the pterygoid plexus of veins and maxillary vein.
|
|
Proximal Attachment |
Distal Attachment |
Open * |
Close |
Protrude |
Retrude ** |
Lateral Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Temporalis |
Temporal fossa floor |
Onto coronoid process of mandible |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
Masseter |
Zygomatic process and arch |
Angle of ramus (lateral) |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
Medial Pterygoid |
Lateral pterygoid plate and Maxillary tuberosity |
Angle of ramus (medial) |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
Lateral Pterygoid |
Lateral pterygoid plate and greater wing of Sphenoid bone |
TMJ capsule and articular disc |
X |
|
X |
|
|
* aided by digastric, mylohyoid and geniohyoid
** aided by digastric, geniohyoid and masseter
Opening and Closing of the Mandible
Protrusion and Retrusion of the Mandible
Lateral Shift of the Mandible
The Muscle of Mastication modules have been supported by several members of the U-SCALE development team (1999):
Lyndsey Ferguson - Computer Programmer
Mike Cunningham - Multimedia Programmer and Program Manager
Jason Mark - Medical Illustrator/Graphics Artist
Tonya McGowan - Medical Photographer
Expert assistance has been provided by the following:
Dr. Geoffrey D. Guttmann - Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine
Dr. Dean Kolbinson - College of Dentistry