The mandible (jawbone) is controlled by the four muscles of mastication (chewing).

The four muscles and their actions are:

• 
  temporalis:
  
  elevates and retracts the mandible (you can feel this by clenching your closed jaw and putting your hands on the sides of your head)

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• 
  medial pterygoid:
  
  elevates mandible and allows for lateral movement (move your jaw side to side)

• 
  lateral pterygoid:
  
  protracts the mandible (push you chin forward to feel this movement)

• 
  masseter:
  
  also is involved with elevating and retracting.