Temporalis muscle

The temporalis is a broad, fan-shaped muscle situated on the lateral aspect of the skull. It is one of the four muscles of mastication, primarily responsible for elevating and retracting the mandible.

Anatomical details

1. Origin

• From the floor of the temporal fossa, including parts of:

  • Frontal bone

  • Parietal bone

  • Temporal bone (squamous part)

  • Greater wing of the sphenoid

• Also arises from the deep surface of the temporal fascia that covers the muscle.

2. Insertion

• The temporalis muscle fibres converge inferiorly into a strong tendon that passes deep to the zygomatic arch. It inserts Into the coronoid process of the mandible and the anterior border of the mandibular ramus.

Innervation

• Deep temporal nerves — branches of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (CN V3).

Blood supply

• Deep temporal arteries; anterior and posterior (branches of the maxillary artery).

• Additional contributions from the middle temporal artery (branch of superficial temporal artery).

— Relations: Both deep temporal nerves, deep temporal and middle temporal arteries, come to lie deep to the temporalis muscle (between the muscle and the underlying bony region)

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