Zygomatic arch
Side view of the skull.
Articulation of the mandible. Lateral aspect.
Latin	arcus zygomaticus
Gray's	subject #46 183

The zygomatic arch is formed by the zygomatic process of temporal bone (a bone extending forward from the side of the skull, over the opening of the ear) and the temporal process of the zygomatic bone (the side of the cheekbone), the two being united by an oblique suture; the tendon of the Temporalis passes medial to the arch to gain insertion into the coronoid process of the mandible.

The zygomatic process of the temporal arises by two roots:

• an anterior, directed inward in front of the mandibular fossa, where it expands to form the articular tubercle.
• a posterior, which runs backward above the external acoustic meatus and is continuous with the supramastoid crest.

The upper border of the arch gives attachment to the temporal fascia; the lower border and medial surface give origin to the Masseter.

The zygomatic arch is significant in evolutionary biology, as it is part of the structures derived from the ancestral single temporal fenestra of the synapsid ancestor of mammals.

Additional images

Left temporal bone. Outer surface.	Left zygomatic bone. Malar surface.	Base of skull. Inferior surface.	The Temporalis; the zygomatic arch and Masseter have been removed.
Dissection, showing salivary glands of right side.

External links

• Zygomatic+arch at eMedicine Dictionary
• Norman/Georgetown lesson1 (latskullitems)
• Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator, at Elsevier 34257.000-1
• Diagram at unc.edu

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.

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