sphenomandibular ligament sphenomandibular ligament the sphenomandibular ligament (internal lateral ligament) is one of the three ligaments of the temporomandibular joint. it is situated medially to - and generally separate from - the articular capsule of the joint.: 671 superiorly, it is attached to the spine of the sphenoid bone; inferiorly, it is attached to the lingula of mandible.: 671 the sml acts to limit inferior-ward movement of the mandible. sphenomandibular ligamentarticulation of the mandible. medial aspect. (spheno-mandibular lig. labeled vertically at center.)detailsfromspine of sphenoid bonetomandibular foramenidentifierslatinligamentum sphenomandibulareta98a03.1.07.007ta21568fma57077anatomical terminology the sml is derived from meckel's cartilage. anatomy the sml is a flat, thin band.: 671 it widens/broadens inferiorly: 671 before as it reaches its inferior attachment, measuring about 12 mm in width on average at the point of its inferior attachment.: 671 attachments superiorly, the sml is attached to the spine of the sphenoid bone (spina angularis.: 671 inferiorly, it is attached at to lingula of mandible (which occurs just proximally to the mandibular foramen).: 671 anatomical relations the lateral pterygoid muscle, auriculotemporal nerve, and the maxillary artery and maxillary vein are situated laterally to the sml (the vessels and nerve coursing betwixt the sml, and the neck of the mandibular condyle).: 671 the chorda tympani nerve is situated medially to the sml: 671 near its upper end. the medial pterygoid muscle is situated inferolaterally to the sml.: 671 the inferior alveolar nerve, artery and vein, and a parotid lobule are situated anteroinferiorly to the sml (all being interposed between the sml and the ramus of mandible).: 671 between the sml and the pharynx are situated adipose tissue, and a pharyngeal vein.: 671 function the function of the sphenomandibular ligament is to limit distension of the mandible in an inferior direction. it is slack when the temporomandibular joint (tmj) is in closed position; it is taut when the condyle of the mandible is situated anterior to the temporomandibular ligament. the sml has about 5 mm of slack when the jaw is closed; it becomes taut when the jaw is open roughly half-way.: 671