Movements of the mandible are mostly mediated by the muscles of mastication, and include: depression, elevation, protrusion, retraction and side to side grinding movements.

• Although depression can passively occur with gravity, it is actively mediated by the condyles being pulled forwards by the lateral pterygoid while the mandibular body pulled downwards by the digastric and infrahyoid muscles.
• Elevation is produced by masseter, temporalis, and medial pterygoid.
• Protrusion is produced by both pterygoids, while retraction is performed by the posterior fibres of temporalis.
• Grinding involves alternate protrusion and retraction on both sides. The mandible also moves side to side, while elevated to keep the mouth closed.