Anatomical relationship between the lateral pterygoid muscle and maxillary artery: Morphological classification and clinical implications

BACKGROUND: The lateral pterygoid muscle is important for temporomandibular joint function and is closely related to the maxillary artery, which is clinically significant during procedures like botulinum toxin injections and infratemporal fossa surgery. METHODS: Thirty hemifaces from human cadavers were dissected. The study documented the number of muscle heads, insertion sites, and the course of the maxillary artery in relation to the muscle (superficial, deep, or transitional). Morphometric measurements included the distance between the maxillary artery and surface landmarks. RESULTS: A two-headed lateral pterygoid muscle was observed in 93.3% of specimens. The superior head most commonly inserts into both the articular disc and joint capsule (60%). The maxillary artery most frequently follows a superficial course (53.3%). The mean vertical distance to the tragus is 13.5 mm, the transverse distance is 34.1 mm, and the mean depth from the zygomatic arch is 23.3 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The observed anatomical variability and morphometric data offer clinically practical guidance to minimize the risk of vascular injury during temporomandibular joint procedures.