Temporomandibular ligament
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| Ligament: Temporomandibular ligament | ||
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| Articulation of the mandible. Lateral aspect. | ||
| Latin | ligamentum temporomandibulare | |
| Gray's | subject #75 | |
The temporomandibular ligament (external lateral ligament) consists of two short, narrow fasciculi, one in front of the other, attached, above, to the lateral surface of the zygomatic arch and to the tubercle on its lower border; below, to the lateral surface and posterior border of the neck of the mandible.
It is broader above than below, and its fibers are directed obliquely downward and backward.
It is covered by the parotid gland, and by the integument.
It prevents posterior displacement of the mandible and prevents the condyloid process from being driven upward by a blow and fracturing the base of the skull.
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.
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[edit] References
Saladin, Kenneth S. (2005) Human Anatomy. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-039080-0
