Stylomandibular ligament

Stylomandibular ligament
Articulation of the mandible. Medial aspect. (Stylomandibular lig. labeled at center left.)
Muscles of the pharynx, viewed from behind, together with the associated vessels and nerves. (Styl. mand. lig. labeled at center left.)
Details
From	styloid process (temporal)
To	ramus of the mandible
Identifiers
Latin	ligamentum stylomandibulare
TA98	A03.1.07.008
TA2	1569
FMA	57083
Anatomical terminology

The stylomandibular ligament is the thickened posterior portion of the investing cervical fascia, which 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 and medial pterygoid.

From its deep surface some fibers of the styloglossus take origin.

Although classed among the ligaments of the temporomandibular joint, it can only be considered as accessory to it.

This ligament along with the sphenomandibular ligament is responsible for limitation of mandibular movements (limit excessive opening).

References

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

External links

• "Anatomy diagram: 25420.000-1". Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator. Elsevier. Archived from the original on 2014-01-01.