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This website aims to give an overview of the four muscles of mastication: temporalis, masseter, medial pterygoid and lateral pterygoid. It will also cover the extrinsic muscles of the tongue: genioglossus, hyoglossus and styloglossus.
Mastication (chewing) is the process by which food is ground and torn by the teeth, formed into a bolus so it is easier to swallow. The muscles of mastication elevate, retrude and protrude the mandible, whereas the extrinsic muscles of the tongue depress, protrude, retract and draw up the sides of the tongue; this all aids mastication.
During mastication, the three salivary glands: the parotid, the submandibular and the sublingual glands secrete saliva to help the formation of the bolus.
Model: Alice Jones