Muscles of mastication

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Muscles of mastication
Mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve.
Latin musculi masticatorii
mandibular nerve
Gray's p.385
TA A04.1.04.001
FMA FMA:74060
Anatomical terms of muscle

There are four classical muscles of mastication. During mastication, three muscles of mastication (or musculi masticatorii) are responsible for adduction of the jaw, and one (the lateral pterygoid) helps to abduct it. All four move the jaw laterally. Other muscles, usually associated with the hyoid such as the sternohyomastoid, are responsible for opening the jaw in addition to the lateral pterygoid.


The muscles are:




Unlike most of the other facial muscles, which are innervated by the facial nerve (or CN VII), the muscles of mastication are all innervated by the trigeminal nerve (or CN V). More specifically, they are innervated by the mandibular branch, or V3.







Clinical significance[edit]

External links[edit]