What Is Masseter Muscle?

Sarah Jenkins
Sarah Jenkins
• • 6 min read

The Masseter Is One of the Muscles of Mastication Muscles of Mastication the Primary Muscles of Mastication (Chewing Food) Are the Temporalis, Medial...

What Is Masseter Muscle?

The masseter is one of the muscles of mastication

muscles of mastication
The primary muscles of mastication (chewing food) are the temporalis, medial pterygoid, lateral pterygoid, and masseter muscles. The four main muscles of mastication attach to the rami of the mandible and function to move the jaw (mandible).
. It is a powerful superficial quadrangular muscle originating from the zygomatic arch and inserts along the angle and lateral surface of the mandibular ramus. The masseter is primarily responsible for the elevation of the mandible and some protraction of the mandible.

Why is it called masseter?

Masseter, (from Greek masasthai, “to chew”), prominent muscle of the jaw. The masseter arises from the zygomatic bone (cheekbone) and is inserted at the rear of the mandible (jawbone). Contraction of the muscle raises the mandible, and it is particularly used in chewing food.

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How do you treat a masseter muscle?

Reported treatments include:
  1. Use of muscle relaxants.
  2. Bite adjustments or involve the use of splints on the teeth.
  3. Surgical reduction of the jaw muscle.
  4. Injections of botulinum toxin type A directly into the muscle are other treatment options.
Sarah Jenkins

Sarah Jenkins

Senior Technology Editor & AI Specialist
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Sarah Jenkins is a veteran tech journalist with over 12 years of experience covering artificial intelligence, mobile innovations, and digital ethics. Her insights have appeared in leading technology publications worldwide.