Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology· 2026Q1
MRI-based anatomical and biomechanical characterization of the human masticatory muscles
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- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
This study provides comprehensive, sex-specific MRI-based anatomical parameters for the masseter, pterygoid, and temporalis muscles, revealing significant sex-based differences in 66 of 68 evaluated metrics, with males generally exhibiting larger muscle volumes and cross-sectional areas.
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Key points
- 66 of 68 sex-specific anatomical parameters for masticatory muscles (masseter, pterygoid, temporalis) showed significant differences between males and females.
- Males generally exhibited larger muscle volumes, lengths, and cross-sectional areas compared to females.
- Females had higher surface-to-volume ratios for these muscles.
- No significant lateral (left vs. right) differences were found within each sex, indicating bilateral symmetry.
- A new center-of-mass-based method was used to determine muscle force application points for biomechanical models.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Biomechanical models of the masticatory muscles quantify the complex force and movement patterns of the masticatory system and are essential for evidence-based diagnosis, treatment planning, and prosthetic care in the craniomandibular region. This study provides comprehensive, sex-specific parameters for assessing the morphology of the masticatory muscles in young adult males and females, based on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images and semi-automatic three-dimensional (3D) segmentation. Parameters such as volume, length, anatomical cross-sectional area and surface area of the masseter muscle, pterygoid muscle and temporalis muscle are evaluated bilaterally. Their force application points on the skull and mandible are determined using a new center-of-mass-based segmentation method for biomechanical model interpretation. Statistical analysis indicates that 66 of 68 parameters show significant sex-specific differences, mostly with large effect sizes: male participants generally showed higher volumes, lengths, and cross-sectional areas, except for two cross-sectional areas of the superficialis masseter muscle, resulting in higher surface-to-volume ratios in women. Although minor asymmetrical effects are observed, no significant lateral differences are found within each sex, suggesting bilateral symmetry of the masticatory muscles in the study cohort. Comparing volume data with existing literature shows that this study’s data generally exceeds historical cadaver measurements but is consistent with recent digital studies, underscoring the influence of age, methodology, and sex-specific differences on the interpretation of morphometric muscle parameters. Overall, this research provides a valuable foundation for the morphometric characterization and sex-specific biomechanical modeling of the masticatory musculature, while also highlighting the limitations of small, unbalanced, and mixed-sex reference groups.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Complementary and Manual Therapy
Complementary and Manual TherapyHealth Professions