Medial pterygoid muscle
M. pterygoideus medialis |
---|
origin |
Pterygoid fossa , lamina lateralis of the proc. pterygoideus of the sphenoid bone and the maxillary tuberosity |
approach |
Pterygoid tuberosity at the mandibular angle of the lower jaw |
function |
Raise the lower jaw, jaw closure |
Innervation |
Mandibular nerve |
The pterygoideus medialis muscle ( Latin for "inner wing muscle") is one of the four muscles of mastication .
function
Together with the masseter and temporalis muscles , it closes the jaw. In particular with the muscle masseter, the muscle forms a functional unit, the so-called masticatory muscle loop, which enables powerful biting.