Relationship between the Cranial Morphology and Temporal Muscle in Insectivora, Suncus murinus

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In observations of Suncus cranial specimens, tissue sections of the temporomandibular joint, and dissected sections of the temporomandibular joint articular surface and temporal muscle, the relationship between the temporal muscle and cranial morphology was evaluated.Morphology of the calvaria in the origin of the temporal muscle and that of the coronoid process in the insertion of the temporal muscle corresponded to marked development of the temporal muscle. The temporal muscle was composed of superior, middle, and inferior muscle bundles. The superior and inferior muscle bundles vertically overlapped the middle muscle bundles. Most of the muscle fibers were inserted in the thick fascia of the middle muscle bundle. The middle muscle bundle originated from the calvaria, ran in the horizontal outer anterior direction, and was inserted in the coroniod process. From the composition and course of the three muscle bundles of the temporal muscle, it was speculated that the main action of the temporal muscle was to pull the mandibular bone coronoid process in the horizontal inner posterior direction. This action of the temporal muscle influenced a series of bone morphology ranging from the inner surface of the coronoid process to the temporomandibular joint via the condylar process. From the articulatory direction of the superior and inferior joints of the temporomandibular joint, the size of the articular surface, and the presence of the articular disc, it was speculated that, in the temporomandibular joint, posterior-inferior inner action caused by the temporal muscle and articulation is received with the inferior joint as the fulcrum, in response to the mandibular supero-inferior movement caused by the condylar antero-posterior movement in the superior joint.