Overview
The cat's short, broad face leaves room for a thick masseter. The feline temporomandibular joint allows almost only hinge movement, with very little lateral shift.
Origin
Ventral border and medial surface of the zygomatic arch.
Insertion
Masseteric fossa and ventral border of the caudal part of the mandible.
Action
Elevates the mandible and closes the mouth.
Innervation
Masseteric nerve, from the mandibular nerve (cranial nerve V).
Clinical relevance
Atrophy limited to one side suggests a lesion of the mandibular nerve on that side.