Medial pterygoid
The Pterygoidei; the zygomatic arch and a portion of the ramus of the mandible have been removed. (Internus is visible at center bottom.)
The otic ganglion and its branches. (Pterygoideus internus labeled at bottom right.)
Details
Origin	deep head: medial side of lateral pterygoid plate behind the upper teeth superficial head: pyramidal process of palatine bone and maxillary tuberosity
Insertion	medial angle of the mandible
Artery	pterygoid branches of maxillary artery
Nerve	mandibular nerve via nerve to medial pterygoid
Actions	elevates mandible, closes jaw, helps lateral pterygoids in moving the jaw from side to side
Identifiers
Latin	musculus pterygoideus medialis, musculus pterygoideus internus
TA98	A04.1.04.009
TA2	2113
FMA	49011
Anatomical terms of muscle [edit on Wikidata]

The medial pterygoid muscle (or internal pterygoid muscle) is a thick, quadrilateral muscle of the face. It is supplied by the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve (V). It is important in mastication (chewing).

Structure

The medial pterygoid muscle consists of two heads. The bulk of the muscle arises as a deep head from just above the medial surface of the lateral pterygoid plate. The smaller, superficial head originates from the maxillary tuberosity and the pyramidal process of the palatine bone.

Its fibers pass downward, lateral, and posterior, and are inserted, by a strong tendinous lamina, into the lower and back part of the medial surface of the ramus and angle of the mandible, as high as the mandibular foramen. The insertion joins the masseter muscle to form a common tendinous sling which allows the medial pterygoid and masseter to be powerful elevators of the jaw.

Nerve supply

The medial pterygoid muscle is supplied by the medial pterygoid nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve, itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (V). This also supplies the tensor tympani muscle and the tensor veli palatini muscle. The medial pterygoid nerve is a main trunk from the mandibular nerve, before the division of the trigeminal nerve - this is unlike the lateral pterygoid muscle, and all other muscles of mastication which are supplied by the anterior division of the mandibular nerve.

Function

The medial pterygoid muscle has functions including elevating the mandible (closing the mouth), protruding the mandible, mastication (especially for when the maxillary teeth and the mandibular teeth are close together),^[1] and excursing the mandible (contralateral excursion occurs with unilateral contraction).

Additional images

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  Position of medial pterygoid muscle (red).
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  Left palatine bone. Posterior aspect. Enlarged.
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  Mandible. Inner surface. Side view.
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  Plan of branches of internal maxillary artery.
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  Distribution of the maxillary and mandibular nerves, and the submaxillary ganglion.
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  Mandibular division of trifacial nerve, seen from the middle line.
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  Muscles of the pharynx, viewed from behind, together with the associated vessels and nerves.
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  Deep dissection. Anterior view.
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  Medial pterygoid muscle
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  Medial pterygoid muscle
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  Medial pterygoid muscle
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  Medial pterygoid muscle
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  Medial pterygoid muscle
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  Infratemporal fossa. Lingual and inferior alveolar nerve. Deep dissection. Anterolateral view