[The influence of the masticatory muscles on craniofacial growth. A microsurgical study in the rat]

Possible influence of masticatory muscles on facial growth was investigated in the rat by the formation of several experimental groups: excision of right masseter muscle of right temporal muscle, of both masseter muscles, of both temporal muscles and of both masseter and temporal muscles, section of inferior maxillary nerve and masseter transplantation. Results demonstrated that overall masticatory muscles provided equilibrium of masticatory function, any rupture of this equilibrium producing effects on mandibular growth and that of the facial mass.