muscles of mastication


masticatory muscles

[TA] muscles derived from the first (mandibular) arch used in chewing; all receive innervation from the motor root of the trigeminal nerve via its mandibular division; includes masseter muscle, temporalis muscle, lateral pterygoid muscle, and medial pterygoid muscle. Synonym(s): musculus masticatorii [TA], muscles of mastication, musculi masticatorii