THE MASTICATORY APPARATUS

The masticatory (chewing) apparatus is defined here as comprising the temporomandibular joint
(TMJ), the muscles of mastication, the mouth, the teeth, the tongue and the salivary glands.
THE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT (TMJ)
The TMJ is a modified hinge joint allowing a gliding motion. It is formed by the articulation
of the head of the condyloid process of the mandibular ramus with the mandibular fossa
and articular tubercle of the temporal bone. The joint contains a disc which separates the
head from the temporal bone and divides the joint into upper and lower synovial cavities. The
joint capsule is thickened laterally to form the temporomandibular ligament. Two extrinsic
ligaments (stylomandibular and sphenomandibular) help to stabilize the joint.
MUSCLES OF MASTICATION
These are the muscles we use to chew.
MUSCLES OF
MASTICATION
Muscle

Origin

Masseter M.

inferior border
and medial
aspect of
zygomatic
arch

Insertion

Actions

fibers course powerful

inferoelevator of
posteriorly to mandible, also
insert into the contributes to a
lateral aspect of side to side or
mandibular
grinding
ramus,
action
especially the
angle
Temporalis M. floor of
fibers converge elevator and
temporal fossa from anterior, retractor of
inferior to
superior and
mandible
inferior
posterior
temporal line aspects of the
and the deep origin to pass
surface of the deep to
temporal
zygomatic
fascia
arch and insert
into the
coronoid
process and
the anterior
border of the
mandibular
ramus
MUSCLES OF

Innervation
masseteric
nerve, a branch
of the
mandibular
nerve

deep temporal
branches of
mandibular
nerve

MASTICATION
(cont.)
Muscle

Origin

Medial
Pterygoid M.

medial aspect fibers course works with

branches from
of lateral
inferomasseter to
mandibular
pterygoid plate posteriorly to elevate and
nerve
and adjacent insert into the laterally move
parts of the
medial aspect mandible
maxillary and of mandibular
palatine bones ramus,
especially the
angle
two-headed
fibers converge protrude
muscle
and course
mandible
originating from posterolaterally when both
the
to insert into the sides act
infratemporal neck of the
together and
surface of the mandible and cause a
greater wing of the disc and displacement
the sphenoid capsule of the to the
and the lateral TMJ
contralateral
surface of the
side when
lateral
acting alone
pterygoid plate

Lateral
Pterygoid M.

Insertion

Actions

Innervation

THE MOUTH OR ORAL CAVITY

The mouth or oral cavity is the beginning of the alimentary canal and is also used for
breathing and speech in humans. The mouth is bounded anteriorly and laterally by the
checks and lips, superiorly by the soft and hard palate and inferiorly by the floor of the
mouth. Posteriorly the mouth is continuous with the oropharynx (the oral subdivision of
the pharynx). The transition from oral cavity to oropharynx is marked by the
palatoglossal arches. The oropharynx is separated from the nasopharynx by the soft palate.
The mouth is subdivided into two sub regions: a vestibule or buccal cavity, located
between the teeth and gums and the lips and cheeks, and the mouth proper, inside the
teeth and gums. The lips act as a sphincter guarding the entrance to the oral cavity. Together
the lips and cheeks work as a unit to keep food from accumulating in the vestibule and force it
back between the teeth.

THE TEETH
Humans have 10 primary (milk or deciduous) teeth per jaw that begin to develop before birth.
These teeth begin to erupt at 6 to 8 months after birth and continue until they are all
erupted at about 20 to 30 months. The deciduous teeth are shed between 6 and 12 years
of age and replaced by permanent teeth with the final number being 16 per jaw. The
process is usually complete by 18 years of age with the possible exception of the third molars
(wisdom teeth) which may not erupt until the early 20's or not at all because of being impacted.
The wisdom teeth may have to be removed surgically. The complement of permanent teeth
is usually described on the basis of one-half jaw or quadrant.
Each quadrant will normally have, beginning at the anterior midline, two incisors (medial
and lateral), one canine, two premolars (bicuspids) and three molars. Each tooth has a
crown (the white part you see and which occludes with the opposite tooth), a neck (between
crown and root) and one or more roots which anchor the tooth to the alveolus (tooth socket)
of the jawbone via dental (periodontal) ligaments.
THE TONGUE
The tongue (Gr. glossa; L. lingua) is a large, highly mobile and muscular structure which fills
most of the oral cavity when at rest with the mouth closed. The tongue is found mostly in the
oral cavity with its posterior-most part being in the oropharynx. The tongue is an extremely
important organ being used in mastication, swallowing (deglutition), speech and oral cleaning.
The oral part of the tongue is highly mobile and is loosely attached to the floor of the
mouth by a frenulum. The root of the tongue (pharyngeal part) is attached to the hyoid
bone and mandible.
Structure of the Tongue
The dorsal surface of the tongue is marked by a V-shaped groove, the sulcus
terminalis. The apex of the groove points posteriorly and the arms pass anteriorly and
laterally. The sulcus terminalis divides the tongue into an oral part (anterior two-thirds)
and a pharyngeal part (posterior one-third). This division is not arbitrary but has an
underlying developmental basis.
Oral Part of Tongue - attached to the floor of the mouth by the frenulum - the oral
part is marked on its dorsum by a median groove or furrow - the mucous membrane
of the oral tongue is rough due to the presence of many papillae which are associated
with touch organs and taste buds - taste buds are concentrated along the sides of the
tongue and just anterior to the sulcus terminalis - taste buds will be covered more
thoroughly in your histology course.
Pharyngeal Part of Tongue - the mucous membrane has no papillae - has a lumpy
looking appearance due to underlying nodules of lymphoid tissue which is collectively
designated as the lingual tonsil.
Muscles of the Tongue - The median furrow of the tongue marks the presence of an
underlying vertical raphe which divides the tongue into two halves and provides
attachment for the tongue muscles. Each half of the tongue has four extrinsic and four
intrinsic muscles.

Extrinsic Tongue Muscles - four muscles that are primarily responsible for moving the tongue
but can contribute to shape change also. All have -glossus (Gr. glossa, tongue) as part of their
names.
EXTRINSIC
TONGUE
MUSCLES
Muscle

Origin

Insertion

Genioglossus mental spine on entire body of

M.
inner aspect of tongue
chin - body of
hyoid bone
(Mental Spine)

Styloglossus styloid
M.
process
(anterior
border)

Actions

Innervation

bilateral action hypoglossal n.

of posterior
(CN XII)
fibers
protrudes
tongue - of
anterior fibers
depresses
tongue depression of
center forms a
trough
-unilateral
action wags
tongue side to
side

posterior sides retrudes

of tongue
tongue and
elevates
posterior
edges to form
a trough

Hyoglossus M. body and

inferolateral
greater horn of sides of
hyoid bone
tongue

retrudes and
depresses
tongue

Palatoglossus soft palate

M.

elevates
vagus n. (CN
posterior
X)
tongue or
depresses soft
palate narrows
passage from
oral cavity to
oral pharynx
(the fauces)

posterolateral
tongue
blending with
intrinsic
muscles

Intrinsic Tongue Muscles - the intrinsic tongue muscles comprise four organized bundles of
fibers which lie in each of the major planes: longitudinal (superior and inferior), transverse and
vertical. They act to change the shape of the tongue. All innervated by the hypoglossal
nerve.
Sensory Innervation - the developmental history of the tongue is very complex and this is
reflected in a complex innervation involving both general sensory and special sensory fibers and
branches of three different cranial nerves.
General Sensory - pain, temperature, tactile, etc. - general sensory impulses from the
oral part of the tongue (anterior two-thirds) are conveyed by the lingual nerve, a
branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (CN V) - general sensory
impulses from the pharyngeal part of the tongue (posterior one-third) are conveyed
by the lingual branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX).
Special Sensory(Taste) - taste impulses from the taste buds of the oral part of the
tongue, except for the circumvallate papillae, are conveyed by branches of the
chorda tympani nerve a branch of the facial nerve (CN VII) - the chorda tympani
fibers are conveyed (hitchhike on) to the tongue by the lingual nerve - taste
impulses from the taste buds of the pharyngeal tongue and the circumvallate
papillae are conveyed by the lingual branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX).
THE SALIVARY GLANDS
The salivary glands include diffuse tissues found within the oral mucosa as well as the three,
large paired glands.
The Parotid Gland
Covered with the face.
The Submandibular Gland
The submandibular gland is a horseshoe-shaped gland with one arm deep to he
mylohyoid muscle and the other arm superficial and visible in the submandibular
triangle. The two arms meet around the posterior free edge of the mylohyoid. The gland
empties via the submandibular duct which opens by one to three orifices in the
sublingual papilla found at the base of the lingual frenulum. The chorda tympani
nerve (a branch of the facial nerve) supplies parasympathetic secretomotor fibers to
the gland by way of the submandibular ganglion. Sympathetic fibers arrive by way of
branches of the facial artery.
The Sublingual Gland
The sublingual gland is the smallest of the paired salivary glands. The gland is found
between the mandible and the genioglossus muscle deep to the oral mucosa and
superior to the mylohyoid muscle. The left and right glands unite to form a
horseshoe-shaped structure which surrounds the base of the lingual frenulum. Each
gland empties by 10 to 12 small ducts onto the floor of the mouth. The nervous
supply is as described for the submandibular gland.

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Clinical Note: When no chewing or speaking is going on, the muscles of mastication are very
quiet electrically, indicating that the closed mandible is in more or less in a state of balance
requiring little muscular effort to keep closed (good advice).
Clinical Note: An inability to stick out the tongue straight ahead would indicate a problem with
the hypoglossal nerve. problems with the vagus nerve would have much more apparent and
important symptoms than moving the tongue