Temporalis muscle

From Freepedia

The temporalis muscle is one of the muscles of mastication. It arises from the temporal bone and inserts into the coronoid process of the mandible. Contraction of the temporalis muscle closes the jaw.

As with the other muscles of mastication, control of the temporalis muscle comes from the third (mandibular) branch of the trigeminal nerve.

The muscle can be felt if one places their fingers on their temples (on the sides of their head, just behind the eyebrows), while clenching and unclenching their teeth.

Muscles of the head

facial expression: Auricularis anterior muscle - Buccinator muscle - Corrugator supercilii muscle - Depressor anguli oris muscle - Depressor labii inferioris muscle - Depressor septi nasi muscle - Frontalis muscle - Levator anguli oris muscle - Levator labii supeioris muscle - Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscle - Levator palpebrae superioris muscle - Mentalis muscle - Nasalis muscle - Occipitalis muscle - Orbicularis oculi muscle - Orbicularis oris muscle - Platysma - Procerus muscle - Risorius muscle - Zygomaticus major muscle - Zygomaticus minor muscle mastication: Lateral pterygoid muscle - Masseter muscle - Medial pterygoid muscle - Temporalis muscle extraocular: Inferior oblique muscle - Inferior rectus muscle - Lateral rectus muscle - Medial rectus muscle - Superior oblique muscle - Superior rectus muscle intraocular: Ciliary body - Iris dilator muscle - Iris sphincter muscle