To reduce the stretch of the temporalis muscle around the immovable process, machairodonts evolved a skull with a more vertical occipital bone.
It also contains the submandibular and parotid salivary gland as well as the muscles of mastication (the masseter, pterygoid, and temporalis muscles).
Compared to the common wombat, the southern hairy-nosed wombat has a larger temporalis muscle and a smaller masseter muscle.
The strong bite of the jaw is accredited to the strong temporalis muscle that attach from the skull to the coronoid process of the jaw.
The skull also has a well-developed sagittal crest which provides a large area for attachment of the temporalis muscle.
The sagittal crest serves primarily for attachment of the temporalis muscle, which is one of the main chewing muscles.
The middle ear space is then packed with temporalis muscle.
Depending upon the incision used, the temporalis muscle is incised or reflected inferiorly.
