Which muscle closes the jaw and moves it from side to side?

Unlock all questions

This demo includes only 20 questions. Upgrade to access hundreds of questions, flashcards, exam simulations, and disable ads.

Full question bankExam simulationsFlashcards
From $24.99Unlock all

Study for the City and Guilds Dental Nursing Block 2 Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations, to prepare effectively. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which muscle closes the jaw and moves it from side to side?

Explanation:
Closing the jaw is done by the muscles that elevate the mandible: masseter, temporalis, and medial pterygoid. Among these, the one that also enables the jaw to move from side to side (grinding) when contracting on one side is the medial pterygoid. It raises the jaw to close, and its unilateral action helps pull the mandible toward the working side to produce that side-to-side grinding movement. The lateral pterygoid mainly opens the jaw and protrudes it, so it doesn’t fit the “close and move side to side” combination. The masseter and temporalis close the jaw but aren’t the primary drivers of the side-to-side grinding movement.

Closing the jaw is done by the muscles that elevate the mandible: masseter, temporalis, and medial pterygoid. Among these, the one that also enables the jaw to move from side to side (grinding) when contracting on one side is the medial pterygoid. It raises the jaw to close, and its unilateral action helps pull the mandible toward the working side to produce that side-to-side grinding movement. The lateral pterygoid mainly opens the jaw and protrudes it, so it doesn’t fit the “close and move side to side” combination. The masseter and temporalis close the jaw but aren’t the primary drivers of the side-to-side grinding movement.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy