Muscles
Temporalis
Fan-shaped jaw elevator over the temporal bone; closes and retracts the mandible.
Overview
Fan-shaped jaw elevator over the temporal bone; closes and retracts the mandible. Trigger points here are common in everyday and athletic populations and frequently contribute to the referred pain patterns described below.
Trigger point locations
Four classic points spread across the temporal fossa above and around the ear.
Referred pain pattern
Eyebrow, temple, upper teeth and the side of the head — a frequent driver of headache pain.
Palpation & testing
Palpate the muscle belly along its accessible course. Reproduction of the patient's familiar pain on palpation supports involvement.
Common causes
Bruxism, prolonged chewing, sustained mental focus with clenching, dental work.
Self-care & clinical treatment
Awareness of clenching, jaw relaxation drills, warm compress, soft-diet phase. Clinically: needling and intraoral release of the deep temporal fibers.
Symptoms commonly linked
References
- • Travell & Simons — Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction