MUSCLES OF

MASTICATION
Dr farhan khalid shah
CONTENTS
 INTRODUCTION
 DEVELOPMENT OF MUSCLES OF MASTICATION
 TYPES OF MUSCLES
 ANATOMY OF MUSCLES
 GENERAL MECHANISM OF MUSCLE CONTRACTION
 MUSCLES OF MASTICATION
 PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS AFFECTING MUSCLES
 PROSTHODONTIC CONSIDERATIONS
 CONCLUSION
 REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION

“MOTION IS THE CAUSE OF

ALL LIFE”

LEONARDO DA VINCI
 Muscle: TISSUE CHARACTERIZED BY AGGREGATION OF CELLS
WHOSE PRIMARY ROLE IS TO PRODUCE CONTRACTION,AND ALLOWING
MOVEMENTS OF PARTS AND ORGANS OF THE BODY.
IT MAY ALSO BE DEFINED AS A BAND
OF CONTRACTILE FIBROUS TISSUE,WHICH PRODUCE MOVEMENTS IN AN
ANIMAL BODY.

 Mastication : RHYTHMIC OPPOSITION AND SEPARATION OF JAWS

WITH THE INVOLVEMENT OF TEETH ,LIPS CHEEKS AND TOUNGE FOR
CHEWING OF FOOD IN ORDER TO PREPARE IT FOR SWALLOWING AND
DIGESTION.
MAIN PURPOSE OF MASTICATION IS TO
REDUCE THE SIZE OF FOOD PARTICLES TO A SIZE THAT IS CONVINIENT
FOR SWALLOWING{BOLUS FORMATION} WITH THE HELP OF SALIVA.
 DEVEOPMENT OF MUSCLES OF
MASTICATION
 The muscular system develops from intra embryonic
mesoderm
 Muscle tissues develop from embryonic cells called
myoblast.
 Muscular component of Branchial arch form many
striated muscles in the head and neck region.
 Muscles of mastication are derived from first or
MANDIBULAR ARCH.
LATERAL VIEW OF A FOUR WEEK EMBRYO SHOWING
MUSCLES DERIVED FROM BRANCHIAL ARCHES
EIGHT WEEK EMBRYO SHOWING DEVELOPMENT
OF FACIAL MUSCLES AND TRUNCK MUSCULATURE
SKETCH OF 20 WEEK FETUS SHOWING MUSCLES
DERIVED FROM BRANCHIAL ARCHES
 TYPES OF MUSCLES

 Muscle cells are mainly of three types

1. STRIATED MUSCLE
a. SKELETAL OR VOLUNTARY
b. CARDIC MUSCLE

2. NON-STRIATED,SMOOTH OR
INVOLUNTARY
Longitudinal section of human Transverse section of skeletal muscle
Skeletal muscle showing Fiber containing myofibrils and muscle
Characterstic banding pattern. Cell nuclei,endomysial sheath lie between
The muscle fiber
LONGITUDINAL TRANSVERSE
SECTION OF CARDIAC SECTION OF CARDIAC
MUSCLEI MUSCLE
Longitudinal section of non striated or smooth muscle
 SKELETAL MUSCLE
 Units of skeletal muscle are the muscle fibers,each of which act as a
single cell having hundreds of nuclie(syncytial striated myocytes).
 Fibers are arranged in bundles of various sizes and pattern called
fasciculi.
 Connective tissue fills the spaces between muscle fibres within a
fasciculus where it is known as the endomyscium.
 Each fasciculus is also surrounded by a strong connective tissue
sheath or perimysciun.
 Surrounding the whole muscle lies epimyscium.
 Cell membrane of muscle fibre is known as sarcolemma while their
cytoplasm is called sarcoplasm.
 Sarcoplasm is divided into longitudinal threads or myofibrils each of
1micro meter in diam.
 Each muscle fiber consists of several hundred to several thousand
myofibrils
 THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF SKELETAL
MUSCLE

Electron microscope show myofiril to be composed of myofilaments these are divided

Transversely by z band into serially repeating reagions termed sarcomeres about 2.5
Micro-meter long in resting state.
ACTIN AND MYOSIN FILAMENT
 GENERAL MECHANISM OF MUSCLE
CONTRACTION
SLIDING FILAMENT MECHANISM.
 Caused by interaction of cross bridges from myosin filament
with the actin filament.
 Action potential causes sarcoplasmic reticulum to causes
release of calcium ion.
 Calcium ion combines with troponin c of troponin
tropomyosin complex causing a confirmational change. And
it moves deeper between two actin strands.
 This uncovers the active sites of actin allowing these to
attract the myosin head and cause contraction to proceed.
 Interaction Between The ‘Activated’ Actin
Filament And the Myosin Bridges-The
‘Walk Along Theory’ of contraction
 When myosin head attaches to a active site ,it causes head to
tilt towards the arm and drag the actin filament along with it,
 This tilt of the head is called Power stroke.
 After tilting head automatically breaks away from the active
site
 Next it returns to perpendicular position and combines with
new active site farther down along the actin filament.
 Thus the heads of myosin filament bend back back and forth
and walk along the actin filament.
 MUSCLE FUNCTION
The motor unit can carry only one action i.e. contraction or shortening, the
entire muscle, however has three potential function.

 A) ISOTONIC CONTRACTION
When the muscle shorten and moves a load, the contraction is isotonic.
Hence the load remains constant and equal to the muscle tension
throughout the most of the period of contraction. It occurs in the masseter,
when the mandible is elevated forcing the teeth through a bolus of food.
 B) ISOMETRIC CONTRACTION
When a muscle does not shorter and length remains same (iso- same,
metry- length), but develops tension, the contraction is isometric. Such
type of contraction occurs when muscle attempts to move a load that is
greater than the tension developed in muscles, this occurs in masseter
when an object is held between the teeth. eg. Pipe or pencil.
 C) CONTRACTION RELAXATION
When stimulation of the motor unit is discontinued the fibres of motor unit
relax and return to their normal length. This is seen in masseter when the
mouth opens to accept new bolus of food during mastication.
FIBER TYPES
 Muscle hypertrophy atrophy and
hyperplasia
 HYPERTROPHY: when total mass of muscle
enlarges.,oncrease in actin and myosin filament in
response to maximal force causing enlargement of
muscle fiber.
 HYPERPLASIA: Under rare condition of extreme
muscle force generation actual no of muscle fiber
have been observed to increase.
 ATROPHY: When total mass of muscle decreases.
 MUSCLES OF MASTICATION

Mastication forces The aev maximum

sustainable biting force is 756N{170 pounds}.
 Molar region: Biting force range 400-890N
 Premolar region: Biting force range 222-445N
 Cuspid region: Biting force range 133-334N
 Incisor region:Biting force range 89-111N
{20-55 pounds}
 PRIMARY MUSCLES OF
MASTICATION
 MASSETER
 TEMPORALIS
 MEDIAL AND LATERAL PTERYGOID
SECONDARY MUSCLES OF MASTICATION
The suprahyoid group of muscles being used as
secondary or supplementary muscles they are
 Digastric
 Mylohyoid
 Geniohyoid
 THE MASSETER
 Quadrilateral and and consist of three layers.
ATTACHEMENTS
 Superficial Layer: Arises by thick aponeurosis.
From zygomatic process of maxilla and anterior 2/3
of lower border of zygomatic arch,pass downward
and back wards at an angle of 45degree and inserted
into lower part of lateral surface of ramus of
mandible
 MIDDLE LAYER: Arises from
anterior 2/3 of the deep surface
and posterior 1/3 of the lower
border of the zygomatic arch,pass
vertically downwards and and
inserted into middle part of
ramus.
 DEEP LAYER: Arises from deep
surface of the zygomatic arch,
pass vertically downwards and
inserted into the upper part of the
ramus and into the coronoid
process.
 RELATIONS OF MASSETER
SUPERFICIA
 Integument
 Platysma
 Risorius
 Zygomaticus major
 Parotid gland
 Parotid duct
 Branches of facial
nerve
DEEP SURFACE
Overlies the,
 Insertion of
temporalis and ramus
of the mandible.
 In front buccinator
and the buccal nerve.
 Massetric nerve and
artery.
ANTERIOR Margin
projects over the
buccinator and is crossed
below by the facial vein.

POSTERIOR Margin is
overlapped by the parotid
gland.
Nerve supply:
 MASSETRIC NERVE,
a branch of anterior
division of mandibular
nerve (which is the 3rd
part of V cranial nerve-
trigeminal nerve).
Blood supply:
 Maxillary artery,
which is a branch of
external carotid artery.
 ACTIONS OF MASSETER
Actions:
 Elevates the mandible to close the mouth
and to occlude the teeth in mastication.
 Its activity in the resting position is
minimal.
 It has a small effect in side-to-side
movement, protraction and retraction.
 THE TEMPORALIS
TEMPORAL FASCIAE
 Thick aponeurotic sheet that roofs over the temporal
fossa and covers the temporalis muscle.
ATTACHEMENTS
 Fan shaped
 Arises from whole of temporal fossa.(except the part
formed by zygomatic bone) and deep surface of
temporal fascia
 Fibers converge and descend into a tendon .
 It passes through the gap between the zygomatic arch
and the side of the skull
 Attached to medial surface,apex,anterior and posterior
border of coronoid process and anterior border of the
ramus of the mandible as far as last molar.
 RELATIONS OF TEMPORALIS
SUPERFICIAL
 Skin
 Auricularis anterior
 Temporal fascia
 Superficial temporal vessels
 Auriculotemporal nerve
 Temporal branch of facial nerve
 Galea aponeurotica
 Zygomatic arch
 masseter
DEEP SURFACE
 Temporal fossa
 Lateral pterygoid
 Superficial head of medial
pterygoid
 Small part of buccinator
 Maxillary artery
 Deep temporal nerves
 Buccal vessels and nerve
ANTERIOR border is seperated
from the zygomatic bone by a
mass of fat.
BLOOD SUPPLY
 Deep temporal part of
maxillary artery
NERVE SUPPLY
 Temporalis is
supplied by the deep
temporal branches of
the anterior trunk of
mandibular nerve.
 ACTIONS OF TEMPORALIS

 Elevates the mandible,this movement requires

both the upward pull of anterior fibers and
backward pull of the posterior fibers.
 Posterior fibers draw the mandible backwards
after it has been protuded.
 It is also a contrbutor to side to side grinding
movement.
ELEVATION OF MANDIBLE
POSTERIOR FIBER DRAWS
MANDIBLE BACKWARDS
SIDE TO SIDE GRINDING
MOVEMENT
 LATERAL PTERYGOID
ATTACHMENTS
It is a short thick muscle with two parts or head
 UPPER head arise from infratemporal surface and
infratemporal crest of greater wing of sphenoid bone
 LOWER head arise from lateral surface of lateral
pterygoid plate.
 Its fibers pass backwards and laterally to be inserted
into a depression(pterygoid fovea)on the front of the
neck of the mandible and into the articular capsule and
disc of the temporomandibular articulation.
 RELATIONS OF LATERAL
PTERYGOID
SUPERFICIAL
 Ramus of the mandible
 Maxillary artery
 Tendon of temporalis and the masseter,
DEEP SURFACE
 Upper part of the madial pterygoid
 Sphenomandibular ligament
 Middle meningeal artery
 Mandibular nerve
UPPER BORDER
 Upper border is in relation with temporal and messetric
branches of the mandibular nerve
LOWER BORDER
 In relation with lingual and inferior alveolar nerve
NERVE SUPPLY
 The lateral
pterygoid is supplied
by a branch of
anterior division of
the mandibular nerv
BLOOD SUPPLY
Pterygoid
branch of 2nd
part of maxillary
artery
 ACTIONS OF LATERAL
PTERYGOID
 Assists in opening the mouth with suprahyoid
muscle.
 Slow elongation while closing the mouth with
masseter and temporalis
 Acting with medial pterygoid of same side
advances the condyle ,while the jaw rotates
through the opposite condyle(when the medial
and lateral pterygoid of the two sides contract
alternatively to produce side to side movements
of mandible eg chewing).
 When the medial and lateral pterygoids of two
sides act together they protrude the mandible so
that the lower incisors project in front of the
other.
 Some authorities have ascribed different actions
to the two parts of pterygoid muscle.
 The upper (superior)head being involved in
chewing
 The inferior in protrusion,electromyographic
records in rhesus monkey favors this view.
The combinded efforts of the Digastrics and Lateral
Pterygoids provide for natural jaw opening.
SIDE TO SIDE GRINDING
MOVEMENT
 Medial and lateral pterygoid act
together to protrude the mandible
 MEDIAL PTERYGOID
ATTACHEMENTS
 It is a thick quadrilateral muscle
 Attached to medial surface of lateral pterygoid plate and
grooved surface of pyramidal process of the palatine
bone.
 A more superficial slip from the lateral surface of
pyramidal process of the palatine bone and tuberosity of
maxilla
 Its fibers pass downwards laterally and backwards
 Attached by a strong tendinous lamina ,to the postero-
inferior part of the medial surfaces of the ramus and the
angle of the mandible
 It is attached as high as mandibular foramen and as far
forward as the mylohyoid groove
 RELATIONS OF MEDIAL
PTERYGOID
SUPERFICIAL
 Upper part of muscle is separated from the
lateral pterygoid muscle by
a) lateral pterygoid plate
b) lingual nerve
c) inferior alveolar nerve
 Inferiorly the muscle is separated from ramus of
mandible by same nerves,the maxillary artery
and sphenomandibular ligament.
NERVE SUPPLY
 Branch of the
main trunk of the
mandibular nerve.
BLOOD SUPPLY
 Pterygoid branch
of 2nd part of
maxillary artery
 Actions of medial pterygoid
 Assits in elevating the mandible
 Acting with the lateral pterygoid they protrude it

•Acting with medial pterygoid of same

side advances the condyle ,while the jaw
rotates through the opposite
condyle(when the medial and lateral
pterygoid of the two sides contract
alternatively to produce side to side
movements of mandible eg chewing)
Secondary muscles taking part in the
mastication
The 4 primary muscles of mastication are in
turn supported or supplemented by few
secondary muscles known as
SUPRAHYOID GROUP of muscles they are
 DIGASTRIC
 MYLOHYOID
 GENIOHYOID
 STYLOHYOID is other suprahyoid muscle,
which does not take part in mastication
DIGASTRIC

•The muscle has secondary role in mastication as

a depressor muscle adding to the action of lateral
pterygoid muscle when mouth is to be opened
agains resistance. Elevation of hyoid bone

MYLOHYOID
•The secondary role of this muscle is evidnent as a
depressor seen in action when mouth is to be
opened against resistance.
•It elevates the floor of mouth to help in deglutition.
 GENIOHYOID
•Geniohyoid elevates the hyoid bone and draws it
forward, thus acting as a partial antagonist to
stylohyoid.
•When the hyoid bone is fixed, it depresses the
mandible
 PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS
AFFECTING MUSCLES
CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES OF MUSCLE
I PRIMARY MYOPATHIES
a)Dystrophies
b)Myotonias
c)Hypotonias
d)Myasthenias
e)Myositis
f)Metabolic defects
g)Miscellaneous(amyloplasias,contractures,degener
ation)
II.SECONDARY MYOPATHIES
a)Atrophy
1)Denervation
2)Disuse and fixation
3)Ageing and cachexia
b) Hypertrophy
1) Developmental
2) Functional
c) Endocrine
d) Internal environment
1)Chemical
2)Vascular
e)Infection
1.Specific(trichinella,toxoplasma,coxsackie virus,tetanus)
2.General(rikettsial,typhoid,pneumococcal pneumonia)
3.Post infection asthenia.
 DISEASES OF SKELETAL
MUSCLE
 Disorders that produce predominantly myofiber
atrophy including neurogenic atrophy and
myofiber atrophy.
 Disorders of the neuromuscular
junction(exemplified by myasthenia gravis)
 Selected primary myopathies including
inflammatory myopathies and muscular
dystrophies.
 MYASTHENIAS
a)Myasthenia gravis
b)familial periodic parslysis
c)aldosteronism
Latter two are very rare diseases.
MYASTHENIA GRAVIS
 Acquired autoimmune disorder of neuromuscular
transmission charecterized by muscle weakness
ETIOLOGY
 Antibodies to acetylcholine receptor on skeletal muscle
fiber
 Assosiation with systemic lupus
erythematosis,rheumatoid artheritis,sjogren syndrome.
 CLINICAL FEATURES
 May be present at any age, chiefly in
adults,predilection for women
 Rapidly developing weakness in voluntary
muscles following even minor activities
 Of interest to PROSTHODONTIST is the fact that
muscles of mastication and facial expression are
involved by this disease frequently before any
other muscle group.
Patient chief complaint may be
difficulty in mastication and deglution, and
dropping of the jaw . Speech is often slow and
slurred. Disturbance in taste sensation in some
patient.
 Diplopia, ptosis,drooping of the face,lend a very
sorroful appearance to the patient.
 Pt rapidly exausted,lose wt,death frequently
occurs from respiratory failure.
 Clinical course variable,some enter acute
exacerbation of their disease and sccumb but
others live for many years,on this basis two
forms are recognized.
a)Steadily progressive
b)a remitting relapsing type
 TREATMENT AND PROGNOSIS
 Drug of choice used in treatment provides such
remarkable relief of symptoms in very short
time.
 Physostigmine administered intramuscularly
improves the strength of the affected muscle in
a matter of minutes
 No cure is known even though the prognosis is
good in the relapsing type.
 TETANUS(LOCK JAW)
 Tetanus is a disease of the nervous system
characterized by intense activity of motor neuron
and resulting in severe muscle spasm
 Caused by exotoxins of gram positive bacillus
Ciostridium tetani.
CLINICAL FEATURES
 Pain and stiffness in the jaws and neck
muscles ,with muscle rigidity producing trismus
and dysphagia
 Rigity of facial muscles producing the typical
risus sardonicus
 Sometimes whole body becomes affected
characterized by opisthotonos
 TREATMENT
 All patients should receive antimicrobial drugs
 Active and passive immunization.
 Surgical wound care
 Anticonvulsant if indicated
 PROSTHODONTIC
CONSIDERATIONS
MASTICATIORY CYCLE
 The pathways of the mandible in chewing is
referred to as the chewing cycle
 Masticatory cycle consists of three phases
1) Opening phase(mandible is depressed)
2) Closing phase(mandible is elevated)
3) Intercuspal phase(ICP)
 The chewing cycle can take many forms and the
classic tear drop shape when viewed in frontal or
saggital plane is oversimplification of reality
 In opening phase teeth and
condyle move down and
forward
 Early closing phase man moves
laterally to the selected
chewing side
 Chewing side condyle moves to
upward reareward position well
in advance of the intercuspal
phase(SRP)
 During rest of closing phase to
ICP chewing side condyle
show a slight forward(.33mm)
and medial
movement(Bennett) (.2mm)
 Non chewing side condyle lags
somewhat behind.
 There are about 15 chews in a series from the
time of food entry until swallowing
 Aev jaw opening during chewing is between 16-
20mm
 Aev lateral displacement on chewing is between
3 and 5mm
 Duration of masticatory cycle varies between .
6and 1 sec
 Men chew faster and have a shorter occlusal
phase than women,it also depends on the type
of food
 FACTORS THAT REGULATE JAW MOTIONS
 NEUROMUSCULAR SYSTEM
 GUIDING INFLUNCES OF CONTACTING TEETH
 MANDIBULAR MUSCULATURE WHEN TEETH
NOT IN CONTACT
 LIMITING OF MOVEMENT BY CONDYLE
The condyles and teeth modify mandibular
movements initiated by neuromuscular system.
INFLUENCE OF OPPOSING TOOTH CONTACT IN
COMPLETE DENTURE
 The occlusal surface should meet evenly on both
sides
 In this manner mandible is not deflected from its
normal path of closure,nor are the dentures
displaced from residual ridges
 When mandibular movements are made the
inclined planes of the teeth should pass over one
another snoothly
 It should not disturb the influence of condylar
guidance posteriorly and incisal guidance
anteriorly
NEUROMUSCULAR REGULATION OF MANDIBULAR
MOTION
 Mastication is a programmed event residing in a
“chewing center” located within the brain
stem(reticular formation of the pons)
 The cyclic nature of mastication is the result of
the action of this central pattern generator
 Concious effort may either induce or terminate
chewing ,but it is not required for the
continuation of chewing
 REST POSITION
 It is established by muscles and gravity
 There are two hypothesis abput postural rest
position
1)Active mechanism,when muscles are in
a state of minimal contraction to maintain the
posture
2)Passive mechanism, elastic elements of
the jaw musculature and not any muscle activity
balanve the influence of gravity
 Numerous studies have shown EMG activity at
rest
 A range of reduced muscle tension upto an
interocclusal distance of about 10mm has been
reported
 IMPORTANCE OF OCCLUSAL
HARMONY
 When closing muscle pull mandible without interference
it is stooped by bone at medial pole
 If tooth inclines interfere lateral pterygoid is forced to
position the mandible to accommodate to the teeth
 There are many variations of timing and degree of
muscle contraction to position the mandible for
maximum intercuspation of the teeth.
 Pattern of deviation is reinforced every time contact is
made
 Imortant facet of propioceptive memory is that it fades if
reinforcement of pattern ceases.
 Elimination of interfering contacts permit an
almost immediate return to normal muscle
function
 Willamson Showed using EMG procedures that
posterior tooth intrference caused hyperactivity
of elevator muscle
 But if the anterior guidance was allowed to
disclude all posterior teeth from any contact
other than CR elevator muscle stopped active
contraction or reduced it.
 TOOTH INTERFERENCES

 The reason muscle changes jaw position in the

presence of interferences is to protect the
interfereing tooth or teeth from absorbing entire
occlusal force
 Muscles become patterned to the devious
closure ,such memorized patterns of muscle
activity are called ENGRAMS
 Because of engrams it is easy to be fooled by
freely hinging jaw that appears to be in correct
CR.
 OCCLUSAL PLANE
 The curvature of the posterior plane of occlusion
are divided into
1)An anteroposterior curve called
the curve of spee.
2)Mediolateral curve referred to as
the curve of wilson
Curve of Spee
 Begins at cusp tip pf lower cuspid and follow the
buccal cusp tip of bicuspid and molars, curve
line forms an arc through the condyle.
 It aligns each tooth for maximum resistance to
functional loading
 To prevent increase
muscle loading of the
teeth and the joints
during protrusive
movement.
 If there is any tooth
contact posterior to
canine during excursion
the elevator muscles are
triggered into
hypercontraction
 CURVE OF WILSON
 Mediolateral curve that contacts the buccal and
lingual cusp tips on each side of arch
 Results from inward inclination of posterior teeth
 In maxillary arch reverse is there because of
outward inclination of posterior teeth.
There are two reasons for this inclination of
posterior teeth
1) one has to do with resistance to
loading
2)second has to do with
masticatory function
 Axial alignment of all
posterior teeth is nearly
parallel with the strong
inward pull of the medial
pterygoid muscle
 Aligning both upper and
lower posterior teeth with
the principal direction of
muscle contraction
produce the greatest
resistance to masticatory
forces, and forms curve
of wilson
 There is another reason
for the curve of
wilson,tounge and
buccinator must place
food onto occlusal
table,there must be easy
access for the food to get
to the occlusal table
 The inward inclination of
the lower occlusal table
for direct access from
lingual
 The outward inclination
of the upper occlusal
table provides access
from the buccal for the
food
 When the curve of wilson
is made too flat ease of
masticatory function may
be impaired because of
increased activity
required to get the food
onto the occlusal table
 BRUXISM
Bruxism is the clenching or grinding of the teeth when the
individual is not chewing or swallowing
 It can occur as a brief rhythmic strong contractions of
the jaw muscles during eccentric lateral jaw
movements,or in maximum intercuspation,which is
called clenching.
 Causes
1) Assosiated with stressful events
2)Non stress related or hereditary
 Increased masseter muscle tension is directly related to
stress situation during the day.
 Increased stress levels
are strongly correlated
with increased levels of
masseter muscle activity
at night
 Bruxism can not be casually described as
"hyperactivity of the lateral pterygoid". 
                              
. The definitive component of bruxism is the degree
of parafunctional elevation, that is, the clenching
component.  An accurated definition of bruxism is: 
Jaw clenching, with or without forcible
excursive movements, where the intensity of
the clenching dictates the severity (or lack
of) grinding .
Each of the graphics below displays identical degreess of
LP "hyperactivity:
•Only the graphic to
the far left can be
considered NOT
be bruxism,
although there IS
hyperactivity of the
LPs

graphic at the
far right is the
most extreme
form of
bruxism).
 Bruxism may lead to
-tooth wear
-fracture of the teeth or restoratrion
-uncosmetic muscle hypertrophy
 Treatment
-coronoplasty
-maxillary stabalization appliance
Normal function versus
parafunction
The image to the left is demonstrating
normal reciprocal  functioning of the Lateral
Pterygoids and
Masseters/Med.Pteygoids/Temporalis'. 
The Lateral Pterygoids advance the
condyles, thereby opening the mouth
(depressing the mandible), with the
assistance of the Digastric  
The oblique orientation of the Masseters
and Medial Pterygoids create a sling.  The
non-working side Medial Pterygoid
contacts simultaneously with the opposide
side working Masseter. 
It is this oblique orientation of the
Med.Pterygoids and Masseters that create
the functional "shift" of the mandible, not an
unilateral contraction of a Lateral Pterygoid
. 
 In the event the Temporalis'
do not cease their active
contractions, scenarios of
varying degrees of
parafunction result, as the
Lateral Pterygoids encounter
resistance to their attempts at
condylar advancement,
thereby increasing their
intensity of contraction and
strain on their origins and
insertions: the pterygoid plates
of the sphenoid bone, and the
condylar neck and disc. 
 The degree of frequency,
duration and intensity of the
contractions of a Lateral
Pterygoid is a function of the
resistance provided by the
parafunction ipsilateral and/or
contralateral Temporalis.  For
example, in the animation to
the left, as a Lateral
Pterygoid attempts to
translate its condyle, it is met
with resistance provided by
the contralateral Temporalis,
thereby causing the Lateral
Pterygoid to pull its condyle
in a medial direction toward
the contralateral contact.
The maximum clenching intensity occurs in
the musculoskeletally stable position

 The mandibular position

of the temporalis' most
intense contraction is not
when the teeth are
together, but when they
are a particular distance
apart, and separated by
an object (such as a
splint, or food).
CANINE RISE SERVE S TO DIFFUSE
PARAFUNCTION
temporalis persists in the
elevation of the mandible,
the canine teeth contralateral
to the translating condyle are
often exploited to endure the
load, thereby allowing the
force to be directed in an
anterior (and slightly medial)
direction, braced by the slope
of the eminence.  This is
called "canine guidance",
allowing the posterior teeth
to separate. 
 Although the lateral
engagement of the canines
can help to diffuse the effects
of parafunction, an end-to-
end canine contact can serve
to perpetuate the effects of
parafunction.  The animation
demonstrates an excursive
movement that allows for
canine-to-canine clenching. 
Canine teeth can alow for
near maximal voluntary
temporalis clenching intensity
Parafunctional chewing cycle: "Outside-in"
 Normal opening is straight,
unless a chronically-
tensed/fatigued LP advances
its condyle "faster" that the
contralateral LP.

 Excursive parafunction does

not engage the canine during
closing (ie, from the outside-
in).
 The above example does not
really happen.  Interferences
are enganged by the LP upon
opening (at right
Parafunctional chewing cycle: "Inside-out"
 Deviation upon opening is
abnormal and is usually the
result of excursive
parafunctional opening
against resistance.  Ideally,
this activity would engage a
canine, 
but can still fatigue a lateral
pterygoid depending upon
the intensity of resistance
provided by the occluding
canines.  Occasionally,
canine tip-to-tip clenching
perpetuates the clinical
presentation of unilateral
headache and contralateral
joint strain.
CONCLUSION
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Thank You