Читать книгу Temporomandibular Disorders - Robin J. M. Gray - Страница 36

The function of this muscle is thought to be twofold: first, it assists in opening the mouth and in depression of the mandible; second it assists in protrusion of the mandible and lateral movements. In addition, this muscle is thought to be important in stabilisation of the condyle/intra‐articular disc/fossa assembly.

There is controversy about the precise action of the pterygoid muscle. However, it is clear that this is an important muscle in protrusion of the mandible, which occurs when both right and left muscles act synchronously. When the pterygoid muscle on one side contracts, the effect is to pull the mandible laterally towards that side.