Zygomatic arch

The zygomatic process of the temporal arises by two roots: • an anterior, directed inward in front of the mandibular fossa, where it expands to form the articular tubercle. • a posterior, which runs backward above the external acoustic meatus and is continuous with the supramastoid crest. The upper border of the arch gives attachment to the temporal fascia; the lower border and medial surface give origin to the masseter. ==Society and culture==

High cheekbones are pronounced zygomatic arches, causing the upper part of the cheeks to jut out and form a line cut into the sides of the face. High cheekbones, forming a symmetrical face shape, are very common in fashion models and may be considered a beauty trait in both males and females within Eurocentric beauty standards. ==Etymology==

The term zygomatic derives from the Greek ζύγωμα zygōma, meaning "bolt, bar", derived from ζυγο-, "yoke, join". The Greek word was already used with this anatomical sense by Galen (2.437, 746) in the 2nd century AD. The zygomatic arch is occasionally referred to as the zygoma, but this term usually refers to the zygomatic bone or occasionally the zygomatic process. ==Other animals==

The zygomatic arch is significant in evolutionary biology, as it is part of the structures derived from the ancestral single temporal fenestra of the synapsid ancestor of mammals. ==Additional images==

File:Gray137.png|Left temporal bone, outer surface File:Gray165.png|Left zygomatic bone, malar surface File:Gray187.png|Base of skull, inferior surface File:Gray382.png|The temporalis; the zygomatic arch and masseter have been removed. File:Gray1024.png|Dissection, showing salivary glands of right side File:Sygomafracture.png|Fracture of the zygomatic arch as seen on plain X-ray File:Slide6JAN.JPG|Zygomatic arch, base of skull ==See also==