Cross-sectional areas of the masseter, temporalis and medial, and lateral pterygoid muscles were determined in 16 subjects by means of computer tomography. In each subject three scans were made, intersecting the thickest part of the muscles at right angles to the fiber direction. The masseter and medial pterygoid muscles are large in persons with brachycephalic skulls, short faces, and a small jaw angle. The cross-sectional areas of the temporalis and lateral pterygoid muscles showed no correlation with facial dimensions.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Ahlgren, J. (1966): Mechanism of Mastication, Acta Odontol Scand24 (Suppl. 44):1-109.
2.
Anderson, D. and Popovich, F. (1983): Relation of Cranial Base Flexure to Cranial Form and Mandibular Position, Am J PhysAnthrop61:181-187.
3.
Björk, A.: Introduction to Orthodontics, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1960, pp. 104-140.
4.
Demirjian, A. (1966): A Study of the Morphology of the Glenoid Fossa , Bull Nat Mus Can206:1-25.
5.
Enlow, D.H. (1973): The Neurocranial Basis for Facial Form and Pattern , Angle Orthod43:256-270.
6.
Hinton, R.J. (1983): Relationships between Mandibular Joint Size and Craniofacial Size in Human Groups, Arch Oral Biol28 :37-43.
7.
Hrdlicka, A. (1940): Lower Jaw , Am J Phys Anthrop27 :281-317,383-467.
8.
Ingervall, B. (1974): Relation between Height of the Articular Tubercle of the Temporomandibular Joint and Facial Morphology, Angle Orthod44:15-24.
9.
Ingervall, B. (1976): Facial Morphology and Activity of Temporal and Lip Muscles during Swallowing and Chewing, Angle Orthod46:372-380.
10.
Ingervall, B. and Thilander, B. (1974): Relation between Facial Morphology and Activity of the Masticatory Muscles, J Oral Rehabil1:131-147.
11.
Landauer, C.A. (1962): A Factor Analysis of the Facial Skeleton, Human Biol34:239-253.
12.
Mller, E. (1966): The Chewing Apparatus, Acta Physiol Scand69 (Suppl. 280):1-229.
13.
Morant, G.M. (1936): A Biometric Study of the Human Mandible, Biometrika28:84-122.
14.
Olivier, G. and Tissier, H. (1977): Le Dimorphisme Sexuel des Correlations en Craniometrie , Ass Anat61:107-115.
15.
Proffit, W.; Fields, H.W.; and Nixon, W.L. (1983): Occlusal Forces in Normal- and Long-face Adults , J Dent Res62 :566-571.
16.
Ringqvist, M. (1973): Isometric Bite Force and its Relation to Dimensions of the Facial Skeleton, Acta Odontol Scand31 :35-42.
17.
Sassouni, V. (1969): A Classification of Skeletal Facial Types, Am J Orthod55:109-123.
18.
Solow, B. (1966): The Pattern of Craniofacial Associations, Acta Odontol Scand24 (Suppl. 46): 1-174.
19.
Throckmorton, G.S.; Finn, R.A.; and Bell, W.H. (1980): Biomechanics of Differences in Lower Facial Height , Am J Orthod77:410-420.
20.
Wedel, A.; Carlsson, G.E.; and Sagne, S. (1978): Temporomandibular Joint Morphology in a Medieval Skull Material, Swed Dent J2:177-187.
21.
Weijs, W.A. and Hillen, B. (1984a): The Relationship between the Physiological Cross-section of the Human Jaw Muscles and their Cross-sectional Area in Computer Tomograms , Acta Anat118:129-138.
22.
Weijs, W.A. and Hillen, B. (1984b): The Physiological Cross-section of the Human Jaw Muscles, Acta Anat, in press.
