The _______________________ pterygoid can protrude the jaw, pull the jaw sideways, and open the mouth.
Mastication or chewing is a process through which the food we ingest is crushed and ground into smaller pieces. Only the lower jaw i.e., the mandible, is movable. The muscles involved in the process of mastication are masseter, temporalis, medial pterygoid, and lateral pterygoid and are originated from the first pharyngeal arch while the muscles originated from the second pharyngeal arch are associated with the facial expression.
Muscles involved in mastication: -
Masseter muscle is considered as the most powerful muscle in the process of mastication and helps in elevating the mandible and closing if the mouth.
Temporalis muscle also helps in the elevation of the mandible and closing of the mouth. Apart from these, it pulls the jaw posteriorly by retracting the lower jaw i.e., mandible.
Medial pterygoid muscle located inferiorly to the lateral pterygoid muscle and helps in elevating the mandible and closing of the mouth.
Lateral pterygoid muscle acts as a major protractor of mandible by acting bilaterally and pushes th4e jaw forward. It moves the jae side-to-side. It helps in opening the mouth by lowering the mandible.
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