Lateral pterygoid muscle

Lateral pterygoid muscle
The Pterygoidei; the zygomatic arch and a portion of the ramus of the mandible have been removed (labeled as "pterygoideus externus", visible in pink at center)
Sagittal section of the temporomandibular joint (labeled as "pterygoideus externus", visible in gray at bottom left)
Details
OriginSuperior head: infratemporal surface of sphenoid bone. Inferior head: lateral pterygoid plate
InsertionSuperior head: anterior side of the mandibular condyle. Inferior head: pterygoid fovea
ArteryPterygoid branches of maxillary artery
NerveLateral pterygoid nerve from mandibular nerve
ActionsDepresses and protrudes mandible, side to side movement of mandible
Identifiers
Latinmusculus pterygoideus lateralis,
musculus pterygoideus externus
TA98A04.1.04.006
TA22109
FMA49015
Anatomical terms of muscle

The lateral pterygoid muscle (or external pterygoid muscle) is a muscle of mastication. It has two heads. It lies superior to the medial pterygoid muscle. It is supplied by pterygoid branches of the maxillary artery, and the lateral pterygoid nerve (from the mandibular nerve, CN V3). It depresses and protrudes the mandible. When each muscle works independently, they can move the mandible side to side.