Trigeminal motor nucleus
Encyclopedia
The trigeminal motor nucleus contains motor neurons that innervate muscles of the first branchial arch
, namely the muscles of mastication
, the tensor tympani
, tensor veli palatini, mylohyoid
, and anterior belly of the digastric.
First branchial arch
The first branchial arch, also called the first pharyngeal arch and mandibular arch, is the first of six branchial arches that develops in fetal life during the fourth week of development...
, namely the muscles of mastication
Mastication
Mastication or chewing is the process by which food is crushed and ground by teeth. It is the first step of digestion and it increases the surface area of foods to allow more efficient break down by enzymes. During the mastication process, the food is positioned between the teeth for grinding by...
, the tensor tympani
Tensor tympani
The tensor tympani, the larger of the two muscles of the tympanic cavity, is contained in the bony canal above the osseous portion of the auditory tube...
, tensor veli palatini, mylohyoid
Mylohyoid muscle
The mylohyoid muscle is a muscle running from the mandible to the hyoid bone, forming the floor of the oral cavity. It is named for its two attachments, with the prefix "mylo" coming from the Greek word for "molar". These muscles are mesodermal in origin...
, and anterior belly of the digastric.