Multiple choice

The muscle responsible for bringing about protrusion of mandible is

  1. lateral pterygoid

  2. medial pterygoid

  3. masseter

  4. temporalis

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A Correct answer
Explanation

When a jaw muscle contracts in the absence of a restraint, the mandible is pulled in the direction of the shortening muscle. The lateral pterygoids are each capable of exerting about 160 N force, a total of 320 N, and yet less than 5% of this is used to protrude or open the jaw.

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