MASTICATORY MUSCLES Meaning and
Definition
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Masticatory muscles are a group of muscles primarily responsible for the movement and function of the jaw during the process of chewing. These muscles play a vital role in the mastication or grinding of food, which is an essential step in the digestion process.
There are several masticatory muscles located around the jaw, including the temporalis muscle, masseter muscle, medial pterygoid muscle, and lateral pterygoid muscle. These muscles have well-developed attachments to the skull as well as the mandible (lower jaw bone), allowing for the coordinated movement of the jaw.
The temporalis muscle is located on the sides of the head and attaches to the coronoid process of the mandible, enabling the closing and lifting of the jaw. The masseter muscle, on the other hand, is one of the strongest muscles in the body and aids in the elevation and closing of the jaw. The medial pterygoid muscle assists in chewing and helps move the jaw from side to side. Lastly, the lateral pterygoid muscle, located on both sides of the head, works in coordination with the other masticatory muscles to allow for the protrusion and retrusion of the mandible.
Overall, the masticatory muscles are crucial for the proper functioning of the jaw and the effective chewing of food. They play a vital role in breaking down food into smaller particles, facilitating easy swallowing and digestion.
Common Misspellings for MASTICATORY MUSCLES
- nasticatory muscles
- kasticatory muscles
- jasticatory muscles
- mzsticatory muscles
- mssticatory muscles
- mwsticatory muscles
- mqsticatory muscles
- maaticatory muscles
- mazticatory muscles
- maxticatory muscles
- madticatory muscles
- maeticatory muscles
- mawticatory muscles
- masricatory muscles
- masficatory muscles
- masgicatory muscles
- masyicatory muscles
- mas6icatory muscles
- mas5icatory muscles
- mastucatory muscles
Etymology of MASTICATORY MUSCLES
The word "masticatory" comes from the Latin word "masticatorius", which is derived from the verb "masticare", meaning "to chew". The word "muscles" comes from the Latin word "musculus", meaning "little mouse". The term "masticatory muscles" refers to the group of muscles involved in the process of chewing.
