The temporalis muscle is one of the muscles of mastication. It arises from the temporal bone and inserts into the coronoid process of the mandible. Contraction of the temporalis muscle closes the jaw.

As with the other muscles of mastication, control of the temporalis muscle comes from the third (mandibular) branch of the trigeminal nerve.

The muscle can be felt if one places their fingers on their temples (on the sides of their head, just behind the eyebrows), while clenching and unclenching their teeth.