The tensor tympani muscle is one of the two middle ear muscles.
Anatomy
The tensor tympani muscle originates from the cartilage of the auditory tube above the tympanic opening of the auditory tube, passes through the anterior compartment of the musculotubarius canal, and inserts on the manubrium of the malleus.
Innervation
The tensor tympani muscle is innervated by the nerve to tensor tympani, which is a branch of the medial pterygoid nerve arising from the mandibular nerve, the third division (V3) of the Trigeminal nerve.
Function
Through its contraction, the tensor tympani muscle can tense the tympanic membrane.