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Anatomy · Anatomical structures

Medial pterygoid muscle

m. pterygoideus medialis

Medial pterygoid muscle (m. pterygoideus medialis) is one of the muscles of mastication that elevates the mandible. It originates from the pterygoid fossa and inserts into the pterygoid tuberosity. The muscle participates in forming the boundaries of facial fascial spaces and serves as a landmark in surgical interventions and anesthesia.

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FunctionElevates the mandible
Blood supplyBranches of the maxillary artery (a. maxillaris)
FasciaEnclosed in the interpterygoid fascia
InnervationMandibular nerve, third branch of the trigeminal nerve (V3)
2 min readFor medical studentsUpdated 09/24/2026
Material prepared by WhiteCoat Pro editorial team based on platform study guidesReviewed by medical editor: Aulov A. A., general practitioner · 09/24/2026

Location and anatomy

The medial pterygoid muscle belongs to the group of muscles that elevate the mandible, along with the masseter, temporalis, and lateral pterygoid muscles.

  • Origin (origo) — pterygoid fossa (fossa pterygoidea).
  • Insertion (insertio) — pterygoid tuberosity (tuberositas pterygoidea).
  • Blood supply — branches of the maxillary artery (a. maxillaris).
  • Innervation — V3.
  • Fascial relations — the initial segments of the mandibular nerve and the medial pterygoid muscle are enclosed within the interpterygoid fascia.

Topography and adjacent structures

The medial pterygoid muscle participates in forming the boundaries of several fascial spaces:

  • Pterygomandibular space — the muscle forms its medial boundary; the lateral boundary is the inner surface of the mandibular ramus. The inferior alveolar nerve (n. alveolaris inferior) descends into this space.
  • Parapharyngeal space (spatium parapharyngeum) — the medial pterygoid muscle forms its lateral wall.
  • Interpterygoid fascial space — the muscle bounds it medially; laterally lies the lateral pterygoid muscle. Branches of the mandibular nerve pass here.
  • Retromandibular region — the medial pterygoid muscle, together with the posterior border of the mandibular ramus, forms its anterior boundary.
  • Intermandibular fascial space according to N.I. Pirogov — the medial pterygoid muscle serves as the inferior boundary of this region.
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Clinical significance

The anatomical position of the muscle is important in maxillofacial surgery and dentistry:

  • Spread of infection: when the source of infection is localized in the region of the lower molars from the lingual side, the inflammatory process can spread beneath the medial pterygoid muscle. Clinically, infiltration of this area and pronounced grade II–III inflammatory contracture are observed.
  • Surgical approaches: the inner surface of the medial pterygoid muscle serves as a landmark for blunt tissue dissection to open abscesses and phlegmons of the parapharyngeal space. During an extraoral approach to pterygomandibular space phlegmons, part of the medial pterygoid tendon is transected with a scalpel.
  • Reconstructive surgery: during conservative resection of the mandible according to P.V. Naumov, the masseter (m. masseter) and medial pterygoid (m. pterygoideus medialis) muscles are sutured to the angle of the mandible, which stimulates and improves bone tissue regeneration.
  • Local anesthesia: the interpterygoid fascia covering the medial pterygoid muscle acts as the medial boundary of the pterygomandibular space and prevents the diffusion of the anesthetic solution.

Class and exam questions

Which muscles belong to the group of muscles that elevate the mandible?

This group includes the masseter (m. masseter), temporalis (m. temporalis), medial pterygoid (m. pterygoideus medialis), and lateral pterygoid (m. pterygoideus lateralis) muscles.

How is an inflammatory focus beneath the medial pterygoid muscle opened?

The incision starts from the retromolar triangle, extends downward onto the lingual surface of the alveolar part of the mandible, and then runs parallel to the gingival margin, 0.7 cm away from it. Periosteal elevation is performed with a blunt instrument in a downward, backward, and medial direction — beneath the inferior parts of the medial pterygoid muscle. A drain is then inserted in the specified direction.

Which nerve passes through the space between the medial pterygoid muscle and the mandibular ramus?

Inferior alveolar nerve (n. alveolaris inferior). It descends into the pterygomandibular space before entering the mandibular canal.

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What else to study on this topic

  • Lateral pterygoid muscle (m. pterygoideus lateralis)
  • Pterygomandibular space
  • Parapharyngeal space (spatium parapharyngeum)
  • Mandibular nerve (n. mandibularis)

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