pterygomandibularis

The pterygomandibularis is a minor muscle in the human body that plays a role in the formation of the floor of the mouth. It is a bipinnate muscle, meaning it has two bundles of muscle fibers, the anterior and posterior bundles, which are connected by a fascial layer. This muscle originates on both the sphenomandibularis ligament and the pyramidal process of the palatine bone, and inserts on the pterygoid process of the maxilla and the tuberosity of the maxilla.

The pterygomandibularis is a component of the buccinator muscle group, which includes the buccinator, the orbicularis oris, and the platysma muscles. The pterygomandibularis is innervated by the buccal branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. Its primary function is to assist in the elevation of the tongue and the locking of the mandible in place, as well as aiding in the depressor movements of the mandible. When the pterygomandibularis contracts, it draws the tongue-raising muscles up and into the head, forming the floor of the mouth.

The pterygomandibularis is often a subject of anatomical interest due to its relationship with the platysma muscle. In anatomical dissections and studies, the pterygomandibularis is typically noted as a thin, delicate muscle, merging into the fascia of the neck. Overall, the pterygomandibularis is an important but lesser-known muscle of the oral and pharyngeal regions, involved in the formation of the floor of the mouth and involved in various activities such as speaking, eating, and other functions related to the movement of the tongue and mandible.