A new layer of muscle has been discovered in the human jaw

Swiss researchers have discovered a new layer of muscle in our jaw. The team described an additional, deeper layer in the masticator, a prominent muscle in the jaw that sits on the back of the cheek and aids in chewing.

Their findings were recently published in Annals of Anatomy. They recommend that the muscle be called the musculus masseter pars coridea, which means the coronal part of the masseter.

The team performed a detailed anatomical study using a CT scan. They analyzed stained tissue sections from deceased individuals and MRI data from a living person.

The lead author, Dr. pain in the mouth; This new approach allowed us to identify and describe a part of the muscle that was simply forgotten or not identified in sufficient detail by the previous authors.”

When asked about the role of this muscle, she added that for now, it can only be inferred based on its structure. “It likely involved pulling the lower jaw toward the ear and immobilizing the temporomandibular joint, for example, while chewing,” she says. The team planned to conduct a detailed analysis of muscle function to validate the theory extracted from the architecture.

Most people think that human anatomy is a science where everything has been fully described for decades. However, there are still many areas of the body that need more detailed descriptions, particularly in light of modern medical treatments that allow for more specific and focused interventions,” adds Dr. Mizzi.

Does this mean that our books need revisions? It concludes that “Anatomy textbooks are regularly revised with new editions, following the latest findings of research in all areas of anatomy, not only at the macroscopic level but also including histology and embryology.”