What is the human masticatory apparatus?

What is the human masticatory apparatus?

(măs′tĭ-kă-tŏr″ē ăp″ă-răt′ĭs, -rā′tĭs) The teeth, jaws, muscles of mastication, and the temporomandibular joints; used for chewing.

What are the components 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 3 major functions of the masticatory system?

THE MASTICATORY SYSTEM, a functional unit of the body, is primarily responsible for chewing, speaking, and swallowing. Its components also play a major role in tasting and breathing.

What is the meaning of masticatory?

1 : used for or adapted to chewing masticatory limbs of an arthropod. 2 : of, relating to, or involving the organs of mastication masticatory paralysis.

What is the purpose of mastication?

chewing, also called mastication, up-and-down and side-to-side movements of the lower jaw that assist in reducing particles of solid food, making them more easily swallowed; teeth usually act as the grinding and biting surface.

What are the stages of mastication?

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 does protract the mandible mean?

Protrusion (protraction), which moves the mandible forwards. Retraction, which pulls the mandible backwards. Elevation, which elevates the mandible and closes the mouth. Depression, which depresses the mandible and opens the mouth. Rotation, which produces side-to-side movements of the mandible.

What does it mean to protract mandible?

Besides being hilarious on her little face, it’s also a muscle action called mandible protraction, and all the superficial muscles of mastication are involved. Check out these muscle movements and more in Muscle Premium! Protraction (on the left) is the act of protrusion, or extending beyond the normal position.

What is masticatory surface?

occlusal surface the surface of the teeth that comes in contact with those of the opposite jaw during occlusion; called also masticatory surface.

What are the 2 functions of mastication?

Mastication Functions Chewing serves two functions. The first is to break up food as the first stage of digestion. The surface area of food is increased, allowing for increased nutrient absorption. The second function is to stimulate the hippocampus in the brain.

What is called mastication?

What is an example of protraction?

Examples of protraction include: With the shoulder in 90o of abduction, brings the arms forward as if to hug someone. The scapulae begin to slide laterally and then anteriorly along the thorax, this is protraction.

Is protrusion and protraction the same?

Protraction and its synonym protrusion are use to describe a movement anteriorly. For example, protrusion of the mandible indicates movement of the lower jaw so that the lower dentition are further forward with respect to the upper dentition. They are the opposite movement to retraction and retrusion.

Which surface is used for chewing?

Occlusal – You might think of this as the “top” of a tooth. It’s the surface of the back (molar and premolar) teeth that is used for biting or chewing. Buccal – This is the tooth surface that faces the outside of your mouth.

Is mastication a chew?

Mastication (chewing), in which food is crushed and mixed with saliva to form a bolus for swallowing, is a complex mechanism involving opening and closing of the jaw, secretion of saliva, and mixing of food with the tongue.

What is the function of the masticatory apparatus?

masticatory apparatus. mas·ti·ca·to·ry sys·tem. the organs and structures primarily functioning in mastication: the jaws, teeth with their supporting structures, temporomandibular joint, muscles of mastication, tongue, lips, cheeks, and oral mucosa.

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.