Mastication(chewing)

The teeth are designed for chewing.

Chewing reflex
* Presence of a bolus of food in the mouth
* Initiates reflex inhibition of the muscles of
mastication
* Lower jaw drops.
* Initiates a stretch reflex of the jaw muscles
* Rebound contraction.
* Automatically Jaw raised
* Closure of the teeth
* Compresses the bolus again against the linings of
the mouth

Neural Control
* Muscles of chewing - innervated by the motor branch
of the fifth cranial nerve.
* The chewing process is controlled by nuclei in the
brain stem.
* Stimulation of specific reticular areas in the brain
stem taste centers - rhythmical chewing movements.
Stimulation of areas in the
* Hypothalamus, Amygdala, and even the Cerebral
cortex near the sensory areas for taste and smell cause
chewing.

Functions of Mastication
* Chewing is important for digestion of fruits and raw
vegetables
Indigestible cellulose membranes around their
nutrient portions that must be broken
* Digestive enzymes act only on the surfaces of food
particles
* Rate of digestion increased
(Dependent on the total surface area exposed to the
digestive secretions)
* Prevents excoriation of the gastrointestinal tract

Salivary Secretion
Saliva is secreted by
Parotid gland
Sub mandibular gland
Sub lingual gland
Buccal glands

Saliva
Saliva contains two major types of protein
secretion
Serous secretion (ptyalin)
Mucus secretion (mucin)

 Saliva has a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.

Daily secretion of saliva is between 800ml and
1500ml (average 1000ml)

Regulation of salivary secretion