Abstract
The aim of this article is to present a review of new findings on clinical anatomy and physiology of the lateral pterygoid muscle, including their role in the practice of dentist, maxillofacial surgeon or physiotherapist. It is a crucial muscle for all movements of the mandible, on which it participates either directly or indirectly.
Its upper head, whos attachment is in principle the articular disc, participates mainly in the elevation, retraction and lateropulsion of the mandible, whereas the lower head mainly in depression, protraction and mediopulsion of the mandible. From all masticatory muscles, it contains the highest number of red muscle fibres, resistant against fatigue and able to maintain the discocondylar complex in particular, either favourable or infavourable, position.
It is a muscle, which "sets" the mandible to centrally programmed position, from which the elevation of the mandible originates and is subsqeuently performed. The knowledge of the clinical anatomy and physiology of the lateral pterygoid muscle is crucial for the understaning of temporomandibular disorders, in which the etiopatogenetic role of this muscle is without any doubt.