AbstractTemporalis is an important muscle of mastication. In recent years, there has been controversy about its detailed anatomy, and claims have been made about the existence of a variant muscle, sphenomandibularis. The present case report describes an anomalous muscle within the infratemporal fossa distinct from both temporalis and sphenomandibularis. Functionally the muscle could pull the buccinator laterally as the jaw closes. Clin. Anat. 19:648–650, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.