Multiple choice

Which of the following muscles is under influence of the superior fragment of condyle in a condylar neck, placed anteriorly and medially?

  1. Medial pterygoid

  2. Lateral pterygoid

  3. Masseter

  4. Temporalis

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Insertion of lateral pterygoid muscle is as follows:

  1. Part of the upper head, namely its uppermost and most medial fibres, is attached to the anteromedial surface of articular capsule and thus indirectly to the anterior border of the articular disc.
  2. Majority of the fibres, i.e,  the greater part of the superior head and the entire inferior head, are inserted to a roughened fovea on the anterior surface of the mandibular neck. Therefore, muscle pulls the head of mandible and the articular disc forwards, downwards and inwards along the posterior slope of the articular eminence. Therefore, during fracture of condylar neck, condyle is displaced anteriorly and medially due to pull by lateral pterygoid muscle.