Masseter
How-To: The masseter is the only muscle in the cheek/face area that you will be held responsible for. It is large and almost shaped like a circle, and should be easy to find. The easiest way to find this muscle is to rip the skin off of the face of the pig, which is most easily accomplished by using your hands, although the blunt probe works as well. If all else fails, cut away the muscle near the cheek (this will be a superficial layer of muscle), the masseter is very tightly on top of the cheek bone, so it wouldnt be cut
In the below picture, the blunt probe is pointing to the masseter. It is visible if you remove the skin from the face and make a small incision into the superficial muscle that may be covering it up (you can see it right next to the blunt probe).
- Action: The masseter brings the jaws together to bite and chew.
- Origin: Originates from the cheek bone, also known as the zygomatic arch.
- Insertion: Inserts into the lateral surface of the mandible.
In the below picture, the blunt probe is pointing to the masseter. It is visible if you remove the skin from the face and make a small incision into the superficial muscle that may be covering it up (you can see it right next to the blunt probe).