There are four main muscles of mastication that are attached to the mandible.
These muscles are essential for chewing, speaking, and other movements of the jaw. The provided reference highlights four specific muscles.
Muscles Attached to the Mandible
These muscles are crucial for jaw movement and functionality:
| Muscle Name | Function |
|---|---|
| Masseter | Closes the mandible (elevates the jaw). |
| Temporalis | Closes the mandible (elevates and retracts the jaw). |
| Medial Pterygoid | Closes the mandible and contributes to lateral movements. |
| Lateral Pterygoid | Opens the mandible, allows deviation to either side, and moves it forward. |
The functions of each muscle are as follows:
- Masseter: A powerful muscle primarily involved in elevating the mandible, enabling forceful biting and chewing.
- Temporalis: This fan-shaped muscle also helps in elevating and retracting the mandible. It is a large muscle extending from the temporal bone to the coronoid process of the mandible.
- Medial Pterygoid: Working with the masseter, it helps close the jaw and facilitates lateral jaw movements for grinding food.
- Lateral Pterygoid: Unique among the four, this muscle is responsible for opening the jaw, moving it side-to-side, and protruding the jaw forward.
Therefore, based on the reference provided, there are four muscles attached to the mandible.
