Unlocking Jaw Health

When we think of jaw movement—chewing, speaking, yawning—we often credit the jawbone and maybe the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) itself. But behind the scenes, there’s a pair of lesser-known muscles doing some heavy lifting: the pterygoid muscles.

Understanding the function of these muscles is key to appreciating how the jaw works—and why it sometimes doesn’t.

The pterygoid muscles consist of two distinct muscles on each side of your jaw: the medial and lateral pterygoids, they are located deep within your face, near the TMJ, and are part of the group known as the muscles of mastication(chewing).

The lateral pterygoid has two heads (superior and inferior), each playing a unique role. The superior head is more active during jaw closing and helps reposition the disc within the joint, while the inferior head is active during opening. Dysfunction here—such as tension or spasm—is often implicated in TMJ disorders, which can cause jaw pain, headaches, and clicking or locking of the jaw.

Working in tandem with the masseter muscle, the medial pterygoid elevates the mandible, helping to close the mouth. It also aids in minor protrusive and side-to-side movements of the jaw, adding power and precision to the act of chewing.

Though it's less commonly associated with TMJ disorders, tightness or overactivity in the medial pterygoid can contribute to facial pain or restricted jaw movement.

When these muscles don’t work properly—whether due to stress, overuse, poor posture, or trauma—it can lead to temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

Therapeutic approaches such as physical therapy, trigger point release, massage, and stretching often focus on relaxing and rebalancing the pterygoid muscles to restore healthy jaw function.