title: Study of pterygospinosus muscle in human fetuses.
abstract: The arrangement of the pterygospinosus muscle was analyzed in 5 human fetuses. The pterygospinosus muscle extends from the posterior border of the lateral lamina of the pterygoid process to Meckel's cartilage. Such an arrangement would permit its action on the joint formed by Meckel's cartilage and the incus of the middle ear. The pterygospinosus muscle is a remnant of the masticatory muscle group. The relationships of the pterygospinosus muscle with the mandibular nerve and its branches and the maxillary artery and its branches were analyzed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphological Sciences II, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mérida Velasco
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Vázquez
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arraez Aybar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiménez Collado
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D005333:Fetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000196:embryology; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000098:blood supply / Q000196:embryology* / Q000294:innervation; D008438:Maxillary Artery / Q000196:embryology