Skull form and the mechanics of mandibular elevation in mammals. American Museum novitates ; no. 2536

Abstract

"A model of the mechanics of elevation in the mammalian mandible is described, in which rotation of the lower jaw, effected by a couple action between the anterior and posterior adductor muscle groups, takes place around the mandibular attachment of the sphenomandibular ligament. This system permits the generation of an occlusal force, variable in orientation according to the position of the bite-point along the tooth row, which is optimally absorbed by the facial skeleton. The requirements of the system are such that in long-faced forms the horizontal components of action of the masticatory muscles are emphasized, and the vertical components dominate in short-faced mammals"--P. [1].