Which muscles perform lateral glide?

• A. Masseter and temporalis
• B. Digastric and mylohyoid
• C. Lateral pterygoid and digastric
• D. Medial and lateral pterygoid

Answer: (D)

Lateral glide of the mandible is produced by the action of the pterygoid muscles. The lateral pterygoid is the primary mover that protrudes the jaw and guides the condyle and disc forward on the moving side, enabling the jaw to glide toward that side. The medial pterygoid on the opposite side assists by elevating the mandible on that side, contributing to the side-to-side shift when the jaw glides laterally. The masseter and temporalis mainly elevate or retrude the jaw and don’t drive this side-to-side motion, while the digastric and mylohyoid are depressors of the mandible and aren’t involved in producing lateral glide. Therefore, the muscles that perform lateral glide are the medial and lateral pterygoids.