The strongest muscle in the mandible (lower jaw), based on its size and force generation, is the masseter muscle.
The masseter is the most prominent and superficial of the four muscles of mastication (chewing). It's responsible for elevating the mandible, essentially closing the jaw. While all muscles of mastication contribute to jaw strength, the masseter plays a primary role.
Here's a breakdown:
- Function: Primarily responsible for closing the jaw. It also assists with protrusion (moving the jaw forward) and some side-to-side movements.
- Location: It runs from the zygomatic arch (cheekbone) to the angle of the mandible.
- Strength: The masseter allows the jaw to close with significant force. When all jaw muscles work together, the teeth can close with a force up to 55 pounds on the incisors (front teeth) and up to 200 pounds on the molars (back teeth).
While the temporalis, medial pterygoid, and lateral pterygoid muscles also contribute to chewing, the masseter is generally considered the strongest due to its size and power in jaw closure. The combined effort of these muscles allows for the complex movements needed for chewing.
