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Elsevier
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Superior Head of Lateral Pterygoid Muscle
Muscular System

Superior Head of Lateral Pterygoid Muscle

Caput superius musculi pterygoidei lateralis

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Quick Facts

Origin: Infratemporal surface and infratemporal crest of greater wing of sphenoid bone.

Insertion: Neck of mandible.

Action: Laterally moves and protracts mandible.

Innervation: Nerve to lateral pterygoid muscle (CNV3).

Arterial Supply: Pterygoid branches of maxillary artery and ascending palatine artery.

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Origin

The lateral pterygoid muscle arises as two heads. The superior head of the lateral pterygoid muscle originates from the infratemporal surface and crest of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone.

Insertion

The muscular fibers of the lateral pterygoid muscle converge and course in a posterolateral direction to insert into the pterygoid fovea on the neck of the mandibular. Some fibers from the upper head may also attach to the articular disc of the temporomandibular joint (Standring, 2016).

Key Features & Anatomical Relations

The fibers of the lateral pterygoid are orientated horizontally.

Actions

Overall, the lateral pterygoid muscle is involved in multiple actions:

- during unilateral contraction, it laterally moves the mandible to the opposite side at the temporomandibular joint;

- during bilateral contraction, it protracts the mandible at the temporomandibular joint (Standring, 2016).

References

Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41st edn.: Elsevier Limited.

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