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muscles of mastication function
- control the jaw (mastication)
- among the strongest muscles of the body
- important for preparing food to swallow
- all insert on the mandible
- rotational motion of the mandible
- depression
- elevation
- lateralization
- all are critical to chewing
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masseter
- most superficial muscle of mastication - 2 portions
- o - lower surface of the zygomatic arch
- c - downwards and slightly back
- ins - angle and ramus of mandible
- inn - V Trigeminal Nerve (mandibular branch)
- f - elevates the mandible
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temporalis
- deep to masseter
- o - temporal bone fossa (includes frontal, parietal, and temporal bones)
- c - downward and converges
- ins - coronoid process of mandible and ramus
- inn - V Trigeminal
- f - elevates the mandible, clench teeth together
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lateral (external) pterygoid
- muscles has two heads
- o - greater wing of the sphenoid bone, lateral pterygoid plate of the sphenoid
- c - down and back
- ins - condylar process of the mandible
- inn - V Trigeminal
- f - protrudes the mandible, helps with elevation for grinding molars when masticating
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medial (internal) pterygoid
- o - medial pterygoid plate of the sphenoid
- c - down and back
- ins - medial surface of the mandibular ramus
- inn - V Trigeminal
- f - elevates the mandible, protrudes the mandible
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