Masseter
Musculus masseter
MuscularSuperficial musclesHeadLeft and right
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- What it is
- Thick quadrilateral muscle on the side of the jaw, running from the lower border of the zygomatic arch to the lateral surface of the ramus and angle of the mandible.
- Function
- Elevates the mandible, closing the jaw with great force; its superficial part also helps protrude it.
- Size
- About 5 cm tall, 3 cm wide and up to 1.5 cm thick.
- Clinical note
- Enlarges with habitual clenching or bruxism (masseteric hypertrophy), which is sometimes treated with botulinum toxin.