Biomaterial Database

The riddle of the large loss in bite force after fast jaw-closing movements. 1998

G E Slager, and E Otten, and T Nagashima, and J D van Willigen

Department of Medical Physiology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.

In unloading experiments (in which the resistance to a forceful static bite is suddenly removed), it is shown that the residual bite force (when the jaw system is arrested shortly after the unloading) is remarkably small. For example, of a 100-N initial bite force, only 18 N is left after a jaw travel distance of 5.0 mm. The present experiments were designed to study whether the magnitude of the low residual bite force is dependent on the initial bite force, the initial degree of mouth opening, and the distance of jaw travel. Furthermore, we analyzed whether the low magnitude of the residual force can be attributed to reflex events of the jaw muscles or to the force-length properties of the jaw-closing muscles. It was found that the residual forces are largely dependent on the distance of jaw travel and are barely sensitive to variations in initial mouth-opening. The relative residual forces are independent of the magnitude of the initial bite force. The maximum residual forces are on the order of 25% of the initial bite force after a jaw travel of 4.5 mm. The low values of the residual forces cannot be attributed to reflex events, because it took about 80 ms for the masseter muscles to decrease their force to a 50% level after their excitation was switched off. Furthermore, it was shown that the force-length properties of the jaw-closing muscles are not responsible for the small values of the residual forces, since over the trajectories used in the present experiments, the sarcomere lengths of the jaw-closing muscles were beyond their optimum. It is suggested that the low residual forces are brought about by (1) a non-uniform sarcomere behavior of the jaw-closing muscles when contracting, or (2) a long-lasting change in the myofilament system of the closing muscles induced by the sudden shortening of muscle fibers.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
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
D008954	Models, Biological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
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
D001732	Bite Force	The force applied by the masticatory muscles in dental occlusion.	Masticatory Force,Occlusal Force,Bite Forces,Force, Bite,Force, Masticatory,Force, Occlusal,Forces, Bite,Forces, Masticatory,Forces, Occlusal,Masticatory Forces,Occlusal Forces
D003198	Computer Simulation	Computer-based representation of physical systems and phenomena such as chemical processes.	Computational Modeling,Computational Modelling,Computer Models,In silico Modeling,In silico Models,In silico Simulation,Models, Computer,Computerized Models,Computer Model,Computer Simulations,Computerized Model,In silico Model,Model, Computer,Model, Computerized,Model, In silico,Modeling, Computational,Modeling, In silico,Modelling, Computational,Simulation, Computer,Simulation, In silico,Simulations, Computer
D003799	Dental Stress Analysis	The description and measurement of the various factors that produce physical stress upon dental restorations, prostheses, or appliances, materials associated with them, or the natural oral structures.	Analyses, Dental Stress,Analysis, Dental Stress,Stress Analyses, Dental,Stress Analysis, Dental,Dental Stress Analyses
D004594	Electrophysiology	The study of the generation and behavior of electrical charges in living organisms particularly the nervous system and the effects of electricity on living organisms.
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001696	Biomechanical Phenomena	The properties, processes, and behavior of biological systems under the action of mechanical forces.	Biomechanics,Kinematics,Biomechanic Phenomena,Mechanobiological Phenomena,Biomechanic,Biomechanic Phenomenas,Phenomena, Biomechanic,Phenomena, Biomechanical,Phenomena, Mechanobiological,Phenomenas, Biomechanic