Temporalis muscle

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Temporalis muscle
The Temporalis; the zygomatic arch and Masseter have been removed.
Latin musculus temporalis
Gray's subject #109 386
Origin temporal lines on the parietal bone of the skull.
Insertion    coronoid process of the mandible.
Artery: deep temporal
Nerve: third branch (mandibular nerve) of the trigeminal nerve
Action: elevation and retraction of mandible
Antagonist: Platysma muscle
Dorlands
/Elsevier
m_22/12551069

The temporalis muscle is one of the muscles of mastication.

Contents

[edit] Structure

It arises from the temporal fossa and the deep part of temporal fascia. It passes medial to the zygomatic arch and inserts onto the coronoid process of the mandible.

The temporalis muscle is covered by the temporal fascia, also known as the temporal aponeurosis.

The muscle are accessible on the temples, and can be seen and felt contracting while the jaw is clenching and unclenched.

[edit] Innervation

As with the other muscles of mastication, control of the temporalis muscle comes from the third (mandibular) branch of the trigeminal nerve. Specifically, the temporalis is innervated by the deep temporal nerves.

[edit] Actions

Contraction of the temporalis muscle elevates the mandible. The somewhat horizontal fibers of the posterior part of the muscle retract the mandible.

[edit] Additional images

[edit] External links