Canadian Medical Guide > Anatomy > Musculoskeletal System > Muscles > Muscle, Skeletal > Masticatory Muscles Terms and Definitions

Masticatory Muscles

Medical Definition:	Muscles arising in the zygomatic arch that close the jaw. Their nerve supply is masseteric from the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. (From Stedman, 25th ed)
Guide Notes:	GEN: prefer specific; /growth: coord with MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT; /embryol: coord with MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT if pertinent

Masticatory Muscles Categories.

	Masseter Muscle - A masticatory muscle whose action is closing the jaws.
	Pterygoid Muscles - Two of the masticatory muscles: the internal, or medial, pterygoid muscle and external, or lateral, pterygoid muscle. Action of the former is closing the jaws and that of the latter is opening the jaws, protruding the mandible, and moving the mandible from side to side.
	Temporal Muscle - A masticatory muscle whose action is closing the jaws; its posterior portion retracts the mandible.

Masticatory Muscles Medical Definitions and Terms

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