The lateral pteygoid's attachment
is not near the surface and is on the medial side of the ramus/condyle
Lateral pteygoid attaches
"behind" the condyle
The lateral pterygoid is
not near the surface. The lateral ligament is another barrier. It
is covered by the masseter
Medial pterygoid attaches
close to surface on the mandibular border
All
of the pictured muscles of masstication (except the LP) have their attachments
on the border of the mandible, close to the surface, thereby are accessible
to TENS stimulation.
The lateral pterygoid's attachment
is deep and behind the condyle. The ability of TENS stimulation has
not been demonstrated.
Digastric attaches close
to surface
The nerve to the Lateral Pteygoid
(red arrow, left) branches off the Buccal nerve, which is a division of
the mandibular nerve.
Surface TENS
electrode is placed over the coronoid notch, with the hypothesis being
that the electrical stimulation reaches deep through the notch to the nerve
to the lateral pterygoid.
