MASTICATORY MUSCLE Meaning and
Definition
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Masticatory muscles are a group of muscles responsible for the movement of the jaw and the process of chewing food. These muscles work together to coordinate the complex and precise movements required for effective chewing and grinding of food before it is swallowed and digested.
Located in the lower half of the face, masticatory muscles include the masseter muscle, temporalis muscle, medial pterygoid muscle, and lateral pterygoid muscle. The masseter muscle is the largest and strongest muscle, located at the side of the face, originating from the zygomatic arch and attaching to the mandible (lower jaw). The temporalis muscle is positioned on the sides of the head, originating from the temporal bones and attaching to the mandible as well. The medial and lateral pterygoid muscles are found between the jawbone and base of the skull, aiding in jaw movement from side to side and front to back.
These muscles are responsible for the primary function of breaking down food into smaller, more manageable pieces through a series of rhythmic contractions. By producing the necessary force and movement, masticatory muscles assist in the initial digestion process, aiding in the mechanical breakdown of food and preparing it for further digestion in the gastrointestinal tract.
Overall, masticatory muscles play a vital role in the proper functioning of the oral cavity, enabling effective chewing and grinding of food, and ensuring proper digestion and absorption of nutrients in the body.
Common Misspellings for MASTICATORY MUSCLE
- nasticatory muscle
- kasticatory muscle
- jasticatory muscle
- mzsticatory muscle
- mssticatory muscle
- mwsticatory muscle
- mqsticatory muscle
- maaticatory muscle
- mazticatory muscle
- maxticatory muscle
- madticatory muscle
- maeticatory muscle
- mawticatory muscle
- masricatory muscle
- masficatory muscle
- masgicatory muscle
- masyicatory muscle
- mas6icatory muscle
- mas5icatory muscle
- mastucatory muscle
Etymology of MASTICATORY MUSCLE
The word "masticatory" comes from the Latin word "masticatus", which is the past participle of "masticare", meaning "to chew". The term "muscle" comes from the Latin word "musculus", which translates to "little mouse" due to the shape of some muscles being reminiscent of a mouse. Thus, the etymology of "masticatory muscle" refers to the muscles involved in chewing.
