← All explanationsTemporalis muscle

How does the temple muscle help chewing?

Temporalis is a fan-shaped chewing muscle at the temple. It attaches to the mandible and helps close the mouth. Its posterior fibres also help move the mandible backwards.

For training & practice ↓

Simplified lateral muscle locations showing temporalis and masseter; deeper muscles and tendon attachment are not fully depicted. — Simplified muscle location · tendon attachment not detailed

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At the temple

Its tendon passes beneath the cheekbone arch to reach the mandible.

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Working together

It coordinates with other chewing muscles. No single muscle accounts for every jaw movement.

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Assess symptoms

Temple pain has many possible causes. Location alone does not establish bruxism or TMD.

Watch the short explanation ↓

At a glance

Location?

Side of the skull.

Role?

Helps close and retrude the jaw.

Pain proves cause?

No; assessment is needed.

Knowledge in motion

Explained in 36 seconds.

Three steps. No audio.
Each scene can also be selected manually.

Silent educational film with German on-screen text and simplified teaching images. Not a patient case or a promised treatment outcome. The full English explanation is available below.

Read the film text in English

At the temple
Its tendon passes beneath the cheekbone arch to reach the mandible.
Working together
It coordinates with other chewing muscles. No single muscle accounts for every jaw movement.
Assess symptoms
Temple pain has many possible causes. Location alone does not establish bruxism or TMD.

Often confused

Temple pain versus a muscle finding

Not all temple pain originates in temporalis.

Quick answers

Is it the masseter?

No. Masseter lies over the outer jaw angle; temporalis lies at the temple.

Can it contribute to jaw pain?

Yes. Assessment distinguishes muscle, joint and other sources.

What can I note beforehand?

Record onset and whether chewing or clenching changes the pain. A symptom diary is not a diagnosis.

At the practice

For a personal discussion

Editorially suggested question to discuss with Dr Niusha Barahmand Pour:

Could these symptoms arise from the chewing muscles?

Temple and jaw symptoms can be discussed together.

Arrange symptom assessmentAppointment selection at Doctolib

Meet Dr. Niusha Barahmand Pour ↗

Learning layer for training & practiceUnderstand terminology and deepen knowledge

Temporal: Related to the temple.
Elevation: Raising the mandible.
Retrusion: Backward mandibular movement.

Make the distinction

Not all temple pain originates in temporalis.

Knowledge questionWhere is temporalis?

For learning, not for assessing personal symptoms. Your answer is not stored or sent.

At the temple.
Inside the tongue.
Inside a tooth.

View answer

At the temple.

The name refers to the temple region.

Sources and context

Editorial research: 2026-11-02. General information, not an individual diagnosis or treatment recommendation. Teaching illustrations are simplified and do not depict a patient case.