How Do You Spell PTERYGOID MUSCLE?

Pronunciation: [tˈɜːɹɪɡˌɔ͡ɪd mˈʌsə͡l] (IPA)

The pterygoid muscle is an important muscle located in the jaw. The word "pterygoid" is spelled with a "p," "t," "e," "r," "y," "g," "o," and "i" before the final "d." The pronunciation of the word is indicated by the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /tɛrɪɡɔɪd mʌsəl/. The "p" at the beginning of the word is silent, while the "y" is pronounced as the vowel sound in "ear." The stress in the word falls on the second syllable, "ter."

PTERYGOID MUSCLE Meaning and Definition

1. The pterygoid muscle refers to a pair of muscles located in the skull, specifically in the region of the jaw. They are named after their anatomical attachment points, which are located on the pterygoid plates of the sphenoid bone.

   There are two types of pterygoid muscles: the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles. The medial pterygoid muscle is a thick, quadrilateral muscle that originates from the lateral pterygoid plate and inserts into the medial surface of the mandible. On the other hand, the lateral pterygoid muscle is a slender muscle that has two heads: the superior and inferior heads. The superior head arises from the infratemporal crest of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, while the inferior head originates from the lateral surface of the lateral pterygoid plate. Both heads insert into the neck of the condyle of the mandible, allowing for complex movements of the jaw.

   Functionally, the pterygoid muscles play a crucial role in mastication (chewing) and jaw movements. They work in conjunction with other muscles of the jaw, such as the temporalis, masseter, and lateral pterygoid muscles, to facilitate opening, closing, and lateral movements of the mouth. Additionally, the pterygoid muscles are involved in speech and swallowing. Dysfunction or imbalance of these muscles can lead to problems with jaw movement and temporomandibular joint disorders.

2. See under musculus.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for PTERYGOID MUSCLE

• oterygoid muscle
• lterygoid muscle
• -terygoid muscle
• 0terygoid muscle
• prerygoid muscle
• pferygoid muscle
• pgerygoid muscle
• pyerygoid muscle
• p6erygoid muscle
• p5erygoid muscle
• ptwrygoid muscle
• ptsrygoid muscle
• ptdrygoid muscle
• ptrrygoid muscle
• pt4rygoid muscle
• pt3rygoid muscle
• pteeygoid muscle
• ptedygoid muscle
• ptefygoid muscle

Etymology of PTERYGOID MUSCLE

The word "pterygoid" is derived from the Greek words "pteryx" meaning "wing" and "eidos" meaning "shape" or "form". The term "pterygoid muscle" is used in anatomy to refer to the two muscles located on either side of the skull, near the sphenoid bone, that are shaped like wings. These muscles are responsible for various movements, such as opening and closing the jaw.