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Myofascial pain patterns of the lateral pterygoid muscle

The primary cause of symptoms of pain deep into the TMJ and functional disorders of that joint are active trigger points (x's) in the lateral pterygoid. essential (solid red) and spillover (stippled red) referred pain to the maxilla, with the autonomic concomitant of excessive secretion from the maxillary sinus, which may likewise be misdiagnosed as sinusitis. Entrapment of the buccal nerve can cause paresthesias of the cheek. (From Travell JG, Simons DG. Myofascial pain and dysfunction, lateral pterygoid muscle, the trigger point manual. Volume 1. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1983:261, with permission.)

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