Origin
Sphenoid bone, lateral pterygoid process.
Insertion
Mandible and the temporomandibular joint.
Blood supply
Maxillary artery.
Nerve supply
Trigeminal nerve.
Action
The muscle helps to open the mouth. It also helps in moving the jaw forward and side to side.
Disease/Injury
Temporomandibular joint syndrome causes pain in the muscle and causes difficulty in chewing or biting.
Muscle exercise
Simple stretches can strengthen your lateral pterygoid muscle. Slowly open your mouth until it causes a stretch in your jaw muscle, hold it for 10 seconds and relax for 10 seconds. Repeat this 5 times.
Interesting facts
The muscle is used during chewing and swallowing the food.
