Session 1 / TMD / Temporalis
Muscle 1 of 3 — TMD
Muscle Reference · 1.1
Temporalis
See Scenario 1: TMD · Scenario 2: Headaches

Anatomy — Visible Body. © Cengage Learning, Inc.

Anatomy — Visible Body. © Cengage Learning, Inc.

Anatomy — Visible Body. © Cengage Learning, Inc.

Referral pattern — triggerpoints.net, after Travell & Simons
Overview Palpation Technique Safety
Origin
Temporal fossa
Insertion
Coronoid process of the mandible
Action
Elevates the mandible — closes the jaw; posterior fibres retract the mandible
Innervation
Trigeminal nerve — deep temporal branches (CN V3)
Related
Masseter · Medial Pterygoid · Lateral Pterygoid · Sub-occipitals · SCM
Clinical context Primary elevator of the mandible — highly active in clenching and bruxism. Anterior fibre trigger points commonly refer to the upper teeth and are frequently mistaken for dental pain. Posterior fibres contribute to mandibular retraction and are implicated in temporal headache patterns.
Anterior fibres
Upper teeth, eyebrow — often mistaken for dental pain
Middle & posterior fibres
Temple, side of head, behind the eye
Client position: Supine (preferred) or seated. Jaw fully relaxed — teeth slightly apart.
Locate & confirm: Place fingertips across the temporal fossa. Ask client to clench gently — the muscle fans out and hardens under your fingers. Ask client to relax and confirm the tension releases.
Palpate: Cover three fibre directions — anterior (vertical, above zygomatic arch), middle (oblique, over temporal fossa), posterior (more horizontal, toward the occiput). Compare sides.
What to feel for: Hypertonicity across the belly, taut bands in the anterior fibres (common in clenchers), tenderness particularly in anterior and middle fibres, asymmetry between sides.
FMT
Active
Client supine, jaw relaxed. Pin the temporal belly with fingertips across the fibre direction — work each region: anterior, middle, posterior. Ask client to open the jaw slowly and actively, then return to neutral. Maintain pin pressure throughout. Feel for tissue softening with each repetition.
TPT
Temporal fossa
Work systematically across the belly. Sustained pressure on tender nodules — firm but tolerable. Hold 30–90 seconds or until softening. Anterior fibre referral to upper teeth is common — confirm this reproduces familiar symptoms. Maximum 2–3 trigger points per session.
MET
N/A — technique not indicated.
Frictions
Coronoid process
Cross-fibre strokes at the inferior attachment on the coronoid process. Firm and precise. 30–60 seconds. Indicated where fascial adhesions are palpable at the attachment. Use sparingly — not a primary technique.
Key safety notes
Superficial temporal artery: Runs through the temporal fossa — palpable as a pulsating vessel. Avoid sustained direct pressure over this structure. Work around it, not on it.
Pressure: The temporalis can be extremely tender in clients with active headaches or chronic clenching. Start very light. If palpation or technique provokes or worsens a headache, reduce pressure immediately and reassess.
Relevant to these conditions
Scenario 1: TMD Scenario 2: Headaches
Headaches — Cervicogenic & Tension
This scenario page is still being built for the student version. It will cover how Temporalis tension contributes to temporal headache patterns.
