| Sphenomandibular ligament | |
|---|---|
 Articulation of themandible. Medial aspect. (Spheno-mandibular lig. labeled vertically at center.) | |
| Details | |
| From | Spine of sphenoid bone |
| To | Mandibular foramen |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | ligamentum sphenomandibulare |
| TA98 | A03.1.07.007 |
| TA2 | 1568 |
| FMA | 57077 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Thesphenomandibular ligament (internal lateral ligament) is one of the three ligaments of thetemporomandibular joint. It is situated medially to - and generally separate from - the articular capsule of the joint.[1]: 671 Superiorly, it is attached to thespine of the sphenoid bone; inferiorly, it is attached to thelingula of mandible.[2][1]: 671 The SML acts to limit inferior-ward movement of the mandible.[2]
The SML is derived fromMeckel's cartilage.[citation needed]
The SML is a tough,[3]'flat,[1][3] thin band.[1] It broadens inferiorly,[1][3] measuring about 12 mm in width on average at the point of its inferior attachment.[1]
It is derived from theperichondrium ofMeckel's cartilage.[3]
Superiorly, the SML is attached to thespine of thesphenoid bone (spina angularis[1] by a narrow attachment.[3]
Inferiorly, it is attached at tolingula of mandible[1][3] and the inferior margin of themandibular foramen.[3]
Thelateral pterygoid muscle,auriculotemporal nerve, and themaxillary artery andmaxillary vein are situated laterally to the SML (the vessels and nerve coursing betwixt the SML, and the neck of themandibular condyle[1][3]).[1]
Thechorda tympani nerve is situated medially to the SML[1] near its upper end.[citation needed]
Themedial pterygoid muscle is situated inferolaterally to the SML.[1]
Theinferior alveolar nerve,artery and vein, and a parotid lobule are situated anteroinferiorly to the SML (all being interposed between the SML and theramus of mandible[1][3]).[1]
The SML is pierced by themylohyoid nerve (a branch of the inferior alveolvar nerve) and the accompanying mylohyoid artery and vein.[3]
Any remaining space between the SML and mandible is taken up by the parotid gland.[3] Between the SML and the pharynx are situated adipose tissue, and a pharyngeal vein.[1]
The function of the sphenomandibular ligament is to limit distension of the mandible in an inferior direction. It is slack when thetemporomandibular joint (TMJ) is in closed position; it is taut when the condyle of the mandible is situated anterior to the temporomandibular ligament.[2] The SML has about 5 mm of slack when the jaw is closed; it becomes taut when the jaw is open roughly half-way.[1]
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