lateral pterygoid muscle

Origin

• inferior head: lateral lamina of pterygoid process
• superior head: infratemporal crest & adjacent greater wing of sphenoid

Insertion

pterygoid pit of mandible & articular disk

Action

brings jaw forward & opens jaw

Innervation

• nerve to the lateral pterygoid (from mandibular division of trigeminal nerve [CN V])

More general terms

• skeletal muscle (voluntary muscle)