Masseter muscle
| Masseter | |
|---|---|
The left masseter muscle (red highlight), partially covered by superficial muscles such as the platysma muscle (below) and both the zygomaticus major and minor muscles | |
| Details | |
| Origin | Zygomatic arch and maxillary process of zygomatic bone |
| Insertion | Angle surface of ramus of mandible, coronoid process |
| Artery | Masseteric artery |
| Nerve | Mandibular nerve (V3) |
| Actions | Elevation (as in closing of the mouth) and protrusion of mandible |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | musculus masseter |
| MeSH | D008406 |
| TA98 | A04.1.04.002 |
| TA2 | 2105 |
| FMA | 48996 |
| Anatomical terms of muscle | |
In anatomy, the masseter is one of the muscles of mastication. Found only in mammals, it is particularly powerful in herbivores to facilitate chewing of plant matter. The most obvious muscle of mastication is the masseter muscle, since it is the most superficial and one of the strongest.