GROSS ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -Function. The medial pterygoid muscle functions to assist with elevation and protrusion of the mandible. It also assists the lateral pterygoid muscle with side to side mandibular motion to help with the grinding of food.

Detailed explanation-2: -The medial pterygoid muscle is innervated by the medial pterygoid branch of the mandibular nerve. Its principal blood supply stems from the pterygoid branches of the maxillary artery. The major functions of this muscle are elevation of the mandible and side-to-side movements when grinding and chewing.

Detailed explanation-3: -The masseter is one of the muscles of mastication. It is a powerful superficial quadrangular muscle originating from the zygomatic arch and inserts along the angle and lateral surface of the mandibular ramus. The masseter is primarily responsible for the elevation of the mandible and some protraction of the mandible.

Detailed explanation-4: -Masseter. The masseter muscle is one of four muscles of mastication and has the primary role of closing the jaw in conjunction with two other jaw closing muscles, the temporalis and medial pterygoid muscles. The fourth masticatory muscle, the lateral pterygoid, causes jaw protrusion and jaw opening when activated.

Detailed explanation-5: -The masseter elevates the jaw, closing the mouth. The temporalis elevates and retracts the jaw. The lateral pterygoid is the only muscle of mastication that actively opens the jaw. Unilateral action of a lateral pterygoid produces lateral movement in the jaw, usually performed in concert with the medial pterygoids.