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Related Concept Videos

Overview of the Skull01:08

Overview of the Skull

The cranium (skull) is the skeletal structure of the head that supports the face and protects the brain. It is subdivided into the facial bones and the brain case, or cranial vault. The facial bones underlie the facial structures, form the nasal cavity, enclose the eyeballs, and support the teeth of the upper and lower jaws.
The cranial vault surrounds and protects the brain and houses the middle and inner ear structures. This cavity is bounded superiorly by the rounded top of the skull, which...
Muscles for Facial Expressions01:14

Muscles for Facial Expressions

The craniofacial muscles are a collection of approximately 20 thin skeletal muscles situated beneath the skin of the face and scalp. These muscles, primarily responsible for the vast array of human facial expressions, originate from the bones or fibrous structures of the skull and extend outwards to connect with the skin. While most skeletal muscles in the body are enveloped in thick fascia, facial muscles generally have a more delicate fascial covering, with the buccinator muscle being a...
Cranial Bones: Lateral View01:27

Cranial Bones: Lateral View

The lateral view of the cranium is dominated by temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View01:14

Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View

The superior view of the cranium shows the frontal and paired parietal bones.
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...
Sutures of the Skull01:22

Sutures of the Skull

The human skull is composed of several bones that come together to protect the brain and support the structures of the face. The junctions where these bones meet are called sutures.
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
Muscles that Move the Head01:19

Muscles that Move the Head

The muscles that move the head are a dynamic and complex group of structures that work together to facilitate a wide range of head movements, including rotation, flexion, extension, and lateral bending.
The bilateral sternocleidomastoid, or SCM, and the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles are significant head flexors. The SCM muscles originate at the sternum and clavicle and attach to the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The SCM contracts bilaterally to bend the head forward, whereas...

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Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
07:26

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology

Published on: August 22, 2022

Masticatory muscles and the skull: a comparative perspective.

Susan W Herring1

  • 1Department of Orthodontics, University of Washington, Box 357446, Seattle, WA 98195-7446, USA. herring@u.washington.edu

Archives of Oral Biology
|November 7, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Mammalian jaw muscles are complex and vary by species. Their asymmetrical use generates forces that shape skull bones, including the braincase, influencing bone maintenance.

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Area of Science:

  • Comparative anatomy
  • Biomechanics
  • Mammalian evolution

Background:

  • Masticatory muscles exhibit significant interspecific variation in size, orientation, and fascial organization.
  • These variations are linked to species-specific occlusion patterns and jaw movement dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between masticatory muscle function and skull morphology across mammalian species.
  • To understand how asymmetrical muscle forces influence skeletal remodeling in the craniofacial region.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of masticatory muscle anatomy and function.
  • Biomechanical modeling of jaw movements and resultant skeletal torques.
  • Examination of bony deformations in response to occlusal and muscular loads.

Main Results:

  • Lateral jaw movements commonly involve asymmetrical force couples from protrusor and retrusor muscles.
  • These asymmetrical forces induce torques on the skull, contributing to bony deformations.
  • Skeletal elements, including jaw bones and the braincase, are affected by these loads.

Conclusions:

  • Bone maintenance in the jaw joint and skull is dependent on loads generated by masticatory muscle activity and occlusion.
  • Interspecific differences in masticatory systems lead to varied patterns of skeletal deformation.
  • Understanding these biomechanical principles is crucial for comprehending craniofacial development and evolution.