Biomaterial Database

Limitation of jaw movement by antagonist muscle stiffness during unloading of human jaw closing muscles. 1982

T S Miles, and T M Wilkinson

The unloading reflex in the jaw closing muscles in man was investigated with a view to correlating the jaw closing movement with the timing of the electrical activity of the agonist and antagonist muscles. When the resistance to the forceful isometric bite was suddenly and unexpectedly withdrawn, the closing movement of the mandible was always arrested before the teeth came together. The rapid arrest of the jaw closing movement was not adequately accounted for by the timing of the inhibition of the jaw closing muscles and reflex excitation of the jaw opening muscles. It was observed that the jaw opening muscles, as well as the jaw closing muscles, were always active during the phase of isometric biting on an object between the teeth. It is therefore concluded that the resulting stiffness of the antagonist muscles is the mechanism which is principally responsible for limiting the jaw closing movement after unloading of the agonist muscles.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007568	Jaw	Bony structure of the mouth that holds the teeth. It consists of the MANDIBLE and the MAXILLA.	Jaws
D008334	Mandible	The largest and strongest bone of the FACE constituting the lower jaw. It supports the lower teeth.	Mylohyoid Groove,Mylohyoid Ridge,Groove, Mylohyoid,Grooves, Mylohyoid,Mandibles,Mylohyoid Grooves,Mylohyoid Ridges,Ridge, Mylohyoid,Ridges, Mylohyoid
D008406	Masseter Muscle	A masticatory muscle whose action is closing the jaws.	Masseter Muscles,Muscle, Masseter,Muscles, Masseter
D008409	Mastication	The act and process of chewing and grinding food in the mouth.	Chewing
D008410	Masticatory Muscles	Muscles arising in the zygomatic arch that close the jaw. Their nerve supply is masseteric from the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Masticatory Muscle,Muscle, Masticatory,Muscles, Masticatory
D009068	Movement	The act, process, or result of passing from one place or position to another. It differs from LOCOMOTION in that locomotion is restricted to the passing of the whole body from one place to another, while movement encompasses both locomotion but also a change of the position of the whole body or any of its parts. Movement may be used with reference to humans, vertebrate and invertebrate animals, and microorganisms. Differentiate also from MOTOR ACTIVITY, movement associated with behavior.	Movements
D009119	Muscle Contraction	A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments.	Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D012018	Reflex	An involuntary movement or exercise of function in a part, excited in response to a stimulus applied to the periphery and transmitted to the brain or spinal cord.
D004576	Electromyography	Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes.	Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man