Figure 2-11. Front view of skull, cross section.
d. Lateral Pterygoid. The main action of the lateral pterygoid muscle is to draw
the condyle and the articular disk forward while opening the mouth. This protrusive
movement is accomplished when the right and left muscles act as one. Alternate
contractions of the right and left muscles produce the sideward movements of the
mandible used during mastication.
MD0501
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