Medial Pterygoid
Action
The action of the medial pterygoid muscle initiate elevation of the mandible. It also assits the mandible in moving from side to side.
Origin
Pterygoid fossa (medial surface of the lateral pterygoid plate and the lateral surface of the medial pterygoid plate).
Insertion
The medial pterygoid muscle inserts onto the medial surface of the ramus and the angle of the mandible.
Innervation
The V3 (mandibular) branch of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V) innervates the temporalis muscle.
Image by Jessica Fitzgerald. Adapted from an image in the BMS225 handbook.