Family Friendly & Specialty Dentists in London, UK
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Structure of the masseter muscle:
- The masseter muscle is thick and quadrilateral in shape.
- It consists of three heads: superficial, deep, and coronoid.
- The fibers of the superficial and deep heads are continuous at their insertion.
- The superficial head arises from the zygomatic process of the maxilla and the zygomatic bone.
- The deep head arises from the lower border and medial surface of the zygomatic arch.
Superficial head of the masseter muscle:
- The superficial head is larger than the deep head.
- It arises from the zygomatic process of the maxilla and the zygomatic bone.
- Its fibers pass inferior and posterior.
- It is inserted into the angle of the mandible and the lateral surface of the ramus of the mandible.
- The superficial head is responsible for the elevation of the mandible.
Deep head of the masseter muscle:
- The deep head is smaller and more muscular in texture.
- It arises from the lower border and medial surface of the zygomatic arch.
- Its fibers pass downward and forward.
- It is inserted into the upper half of the ramus of the mandible.
- The deep head is partly concealed by the superficial portion and covered by the parotid gland.
Coronoid head of the masseter muscle:
- The coronoid head of the masseter's tendon and muscle fibers run posterolaterally.
- It originates from the coronoid process of the mandible.
- Its function is to retract the mandible and stabilize the mandibular coronoid process.
- The coronoid head plays a role in the closing of the jaws.
- It is believed to contribute to the protrusion of the mandible.
Innervation of the masseter muscle:
- The masseter muscle is innervated by the anterior division of the mandibular division (V3) of the trigeminal nerve.
- The innervation pathway involves the gyrus precentralis, genu capsula interna, nucleus motorius nervi trigemini, nervus trigeminus, nervus mandibularis, and musculus masseter.
- Along with the other muscles of mastication, the masseter receives innervation from the trigeminal nerve.
- The innervation of the masseter allows for its contraction and the elevation of the mandible.
- The trigeminal nerve plays a crucial role in the motor function of the masseter muscle.
