Lateral Pterygoid

The lateral pterygoid is a muscle of mastication (chewing). It is triangular shaped muscle with superior and inferior heads.

• Attachments:
  • The superior head originates from the greater wing of the sphenoid.
  • The inferior head originates from the lateral pterygoid plate of the sphenoid.
  • The two heads converge into a tendon which attaches to the neck of the mandible.

• Actions:
  • Bilateral action – protraction of the mandible and depression of the chin.
  • Unilateral action  – ‘side to side’ movement of the jaw.
• Innervation: Mandibular nerve (V₃).
• Blood Supply: Pterygoid branch of maxillary artery.

By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2025)

Fig 1
The medial and lateral pterygoids.