title: New anatomo-radiological findings of the lateral pterygoid muscle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The discrepancies in the literature regarding the anatomy of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), particularly at the level of the lateral pterygoid muscle, led us to compare plastinated section techniques and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to enable the better interpretation of both, and to describe the features of the lateral pterygoid muscle and the exact location of its insertions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 24 blocks of human TMJ were used. Seven were studied by MRI, obtaining images of the oblique-sagittal, oblique-coronal, and axial planes. Four of these blocks were then cut and processed by means of the E12 plastination technique. The remaining blocks were dissected. Finally, we performed a comparative morphological analysis of the different techniques used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  New aspects about the morphology and the insertions of the lateral pterygoid muscle are described. The muscle is inserted into the disc, capsule, condyle, and the pterygoid fovea, through muscle and tendon fibres that alternate, giving it the characteristic of a multipennate muscle. This insertion caudally exceeded the pterygoid fovea and descends to near the lingula of mandible. A profuse pterygoid venous plexus surrounds the whole joint complex, and also the insertion zone of the lateral pterygoid muscle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We consider that the use of transparent-plastinated anatomical sections and its good correlation with MRI images (in axial and oblique-sagittal planes) led to an accurate identification of TMJ structures, especially in relation to the lateral pterygoid muscle, that is now described as a multipennate muscle.
authors.affiliation: Human Anatomy and Embriology Department, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain. cmbmanas@gmail.com.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bernal-Mañas
authors.affiliation: Human Anatomy and Embriology Department, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: González-Sequeros
authors.affiliation: Human Anatomy and Embriology Department, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moreno-Cascales
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Anatomy and Embriology Department. Veterinary School, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sarria-Cabrera
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Anatomy and Embriology Department. Veterinary School, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Latorre-Reviriego
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016616:Cryoultramicrotomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011626:Pterygoid Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: Human temporomandibular joint; Lateral pterygoid muscle; MRI; Plastination; Pterygoid venous plexus; TMJ