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Masticatory Muscles and Branches of Mandibular Nerve: Positional Relationships Between Various Muscle Bundles and Their Innervating Branches
Author(s) -
Akita Keiichi,
SakaguchiKuma Tomomi,
Fukino Keiko,
Ono Takashi
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the anatomical record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1932-8494
pISSN - 1932-8486
DOI - 10.1002/ar.23943
Subject(s) - masticatory force , anatomy , lateral pterygoid muscle , pterygoid muscles , temporalis muscle , muscle group , biology , medicine , orthodontics , physical medicine and rehabilitation , condyle
The masticatory muscles, which are composed of four main muscles, are innervated by branches of only one of the cranial nerves, the mandibular nerve. This muscle group has a variety of very complex functions. We have investigated the origins and insertions of the masticatory muscles and the adjacent bundles of the main muscles, and closely examined the positional relationships between the muscle bundles and innervating branches. According to the findings of the nerve branching patterns, the masticatory muscles can be classified into two groups: the inner group consisting of the lateral pterygoid muscle, and the outer group consisting of the other muscles and adjacent muscle bundles. Further, the outer muscle group is sub‐divided into the three other main muscles (the masseter, the temporalis, and the medial pterygoid muscle) and the adjacent various transitional muscle bundles. Anat Rec, 302:609–619, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.