The development and morphofunctional characteristics of the human lateral pterygoid muscle
Blagonravova, I.O.; Bazhenov, D.V.
Morfologiia 112(5): 64-68
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 1026-3543 PMID: 9460684 Document Number: 470218
Peculiarities of the development of superior and inferior heads of lateral pterygoid muscle (LPM) as well as their micro- and ultramicroscopic structure were studied as related to the temporomandibular joint elements in human fetuses and newborns. As a result, heterogeneity and asynchronism of the development of myogenic elements of certain LPM heads were demonstrated. The process of muscle fibres differentiation in LPM superior head leads to more mature structural organization and runs faster than in the inferior head. By the moment of birth average section area of superior head muscle fibres is significantly higher than the inferior head similar parameter.