Stylomandibular_ligament

Stylomandibular ligament

Stylomandibular ligament

Ligament between the jaw bone and the skull

The stylomandibular ligament is the thickened posterior portion of the investing cervical fascia around the neck. It extends from near the apex of the styloid process of the temporal bone to the angle and posterior border of the angle of the mandible, between the masseter muscle and medial pterygoid muscle. The stylomandibular ligament limits mandibular movements, such as preventing excessive opening.

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Structure

The stylomandibular ligament extends from near the apex of the styloid process of the temporal bone to the angle and posterior border of the angle of the mandible, between the masseter muscle and medial pterygoid muscle. From its deep surface, some fibers of the styloglossus muscle originate. Although classed among the ligaments of the temporomandibular joint, it can only be considered as accessory to it.

Function

The stylomandibular ligament, along with the sphenomandibular ligament, limits mandibular movements, such as preventing excessive opening.[1]

Clinical significance

The stylomandibular ligament is important for maintaining stability of the mandible after maxillofacial surgery.[1]

References

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 298 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. [1]
    Beukes, J.; Reyneke, J. P.; Becker, P. J. (2013-01-01). "Medial pterygoid muscle and stylomandibular ligament: the effects on postoperative stability". International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 42 (1): 43–48. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2012.05.010. ISSN 0901-5027. PMID 22819693 – via ScienceDirect.
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This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Stylomandibular_ligament, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.