What is the meaning of Pterygoid Plates?
Pterygoid Plates is widely used term in Dental Anatomy.
In dental anatomy, the pterygoid plates refer to bony structures located in the skull. Specifically, they are thin, triangular-shaped plates that originate from the sphenoid bone. There are two pterygoid plates: the medial pterygoid plate and the lateral pterygoid plate.
The medial pterygoid plate is positioned on the inner side of the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone. It plays a crucial role in providing attachments for several muscles, including the medial pterygoid muscle, tensor veli palatini muscle, and tensor tympani muscle.
On the other hand, the lateral pterygoid plate is situated on the outer side of the pterygoid process. It is integral in providing attachments for the lateral pterygoid muscle, which is important for the movement of the temporomandibular joint. This muscle helps in actions like opening the mouth, protruding the jaw, and moving it from side to side.
Together, the pterygoid plates contribute to the structure and function of the skull and play a crucial role in various dental and orofacial movements.
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