What are the functions of the human masticatory apparatus?

Out of many functional systems that exist in a human body, the masticatory system controls the process of chewing, swallowing and speaking. Broadly speaking, it comprises the jaw, teeth, temporomandibular joints, lips, cheeks and masticatory muscles.

What is the masticatory system?

The masticatory system is a highly organized group of craniofacial structures, including bones (maxillae and mandible), teeth, joints, neurovascular elements, and the muscles responsible for moving the mandible. Mandibular movements are required for vital functions such as mastication.

What is masticatory cycle?

During a masticatory cycle, there are several movements, namely: first, the mandible moves away from the jaw so that the food fragment is introduced in the mouth, then during the second movement the mandible approaches the jaw and follows the third movement when the antagonistic teeth establish contact through …

What are the three features of the masticatory chewing system?

The three major bones of the masticatory system are the maxilla, or upper jaw; the mandible, or lower jaw; and the temporal bone, which is connected to the upper jaw and thereby forms the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) with the mandible.

What are the 3 basic masticatory phases?

The chewing cycle can be considered to comprise three phases: an opening phase, a closing phase, and an occlusal phase. The masticatory system is distinctive compared with other bodily movements in that it is terminated by abrupt contact between hard tissues.

What are the 4 major parts of mastication?

The muscles used in mastication manipulate the bones/teeth and control movements of the tongue, lips, and cheeks. The four major muscles groups are the masseter, temporalis, medial pterygoid, and lateral pterygoid: Masseter: The masseter muscles are on either side of the face.

What are the organs of mastication?

The organs and structures primarily functioning in mastication, including jaws and jaw muscles, teeth, temporomandibular joints, tongue, lips, cheeks, and mucous membranes.

What articulates with the mandibular condyle?

The condyle of the mandible articulates with the temporal bone in the mandibular fossa. The mandibular fossa is a concave depression in the squamous portion of the temporal bone. These two bones are actually separated by an articular disc, which divides the joint into two distinct compartments.

What is the main function of the oral cavity?

The oral cavity represents the first part of the digestive tube. Its primary function is to serve as the entrance of the alimentary tract and to initiate the digestive process by salivation and propulsion of the alimentary bolus into the pharynx.

What is the function of the tongue?

The tongue (L. lingua; G. glossa) functions as a digestive organ by facilitating the movement of food during mastication and assisting swallowing. Other important functions include speech and taste.

Why is mastication important to digestion?

Chewing or mastication is the process by which food is crushed and ground by teeth. It is the first step of digestion, and it increases the surface area of foods to allow a more efficient break down by enzymes.

What is the function of the mandibular condyle?

Abstract. Mandibular condylar cartilage plays a crucial role in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) function, which includes facilitating articulation with the TMJ disc, reducing loads on the underlying bone, and contributing to bone remodeling.

What is the development of the masticatory organ?

The development of the human masticatory organ, from embryonic development to a morphologically complete functional unit of mature permanent dentition and related structures, is fascinatingly logical, and an extremely unpredictable event.

What are the three bones of the masticatory system?

The three major bones of the masticatory system are the maxilla, or upper jaw; the mandible, or lower jaw; and the temporal bone, which is connected to the upper jaw and thereby forms the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) with the mandible.

What are the motor units of primary masticatory muscles?

The primary masticatory muscles contain motor units (a group of fibers that contract along with the motor nerve that controls the contraction of all of the fibers in the group) that are intermediate in size (500–1,000 fibers) between the very small units for muscles that control eye movements and the very large units for muscles in the lower limbs.