14. Temporalis

Origin: Temporal lines on the parietal bone and the superior temporal surface of the sphenoid bone

Insertion: Coronoid process of the mandible

Action:

  • Elevation of the mandible
  • Retraction of the mandible

Innervation: Deep temporal nerve – a branch of the anterior division of the mandibular nerve – a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V3)

Temporalis.
Figure 2.33 Temporalis, by Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter (Public domain).

Needling

Position: Supine (often with head rotated to opposite side)

Palpation: Palpate this muscle in the temporal fossa

Technique:

1. Thread the needle through temporalis

2. Needle perpendicular to the temporal bone using it as a bony backdrop

Caution: Low – there is a superficial temporal artery and vein that travel with the auriculotemporal nerve superficial to this muscle

Needling of temporalis.
Figure 2.34 Needling of temporalis, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

Video 2.15 Needling of temporalis, original video by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

License

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Sinew Channel Needling Copyright © 2026 by Nadine Crocker is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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