Lateral temporomandibular ligament
Ligamentum temporomandibulare laterale
- Latin synonym: Ligamentum laterale articulationis temporomandibularis
- Synonym: Lateral ligament of temporomandibular joint
- Related terms: Lateral ligament
Definition
The lateral ligament (temporomandibular ligament external lateral ligament) consists of two short, narrow fasciculi, one in front of the other, attached, above, to the lateral surface of the zygomatic arch and to the tubercle on its lower border; below, to the lateral surface and posterior border of the neck of the mandible. It is broader above than below, and its fibers are directed obliquely downward and backward. It is covered by the parotid gland, and by the integument.
References
This definition incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy (20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, published in 1918 – from http://www.bartleby.com/107/).
