Thesis--Utrecht. / Summary in Dutch. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 105-115).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Karolinska medico-kirurgiska instututet, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references.

Copies of author's previously published articles inserted. Bibliography: leaves 169-219. Describes experiments to determine what factors affect the outcome of the reflex response of the jaw closing muscles to peridontal mechanoreceptive stimulus. The reflex responses of the human masseter were investigated by applying force using different stimulus profiles. It was shown that when the force profile had little or no fast component, the likelehood of eliciting an exitatory peridontal masseteric reflex increased. It is concluded that the shape of the stimulus profile, the location of the stimulating probe and the presence of preload are the main factors that determine the exitatory reflex response of the jaw closing muscles.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Iowa, 2009. / Thesis supervisor: Steven Vincent. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-174).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1959.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1959.

published_or_final_version / Dentistry / Master / Master of Dental Surgery

published_or_final_version / Dentistry / Master / Master of Dental Surgery

Master of Science / A mechanical stimulus producing stretch in human or animal muscle may evoke a reflex response in the muscle that tends to oppose the length change. In decerebrate preparations, limb flexion generates a tonic stretch reflex that manifests as a sustained increase in resistance (Liddell and Sherrington, 1924; Widmalm, 1976b). This tonic response is not readily apparent in the conscious human subject, however, the phasic response may be observed as a burst of action potentials produced by the synchronous firing of several motor units, and as such represents the classic tendon reflex. The analogous compound action potential in the jaw musculature may be demonstrated following a sudden downward mechanical impulse to the mandible in the human or animal subject (Goodwill, 1968; Matthews, 1976) and has been termed the jaw-closing reflex or the jaw jerk reflex, the latter so named in view of its similarity to the knee-jerk and other tendon reflexes induced by sudden stretch (Goodwill, 1968; Munro and Griffin, 1971; Tardieu, Tabary and Tardieu, 1973). The use of the term “jaw jerk” to describe this reflex may be inappropriate as it has been used to describe a sudden opening movement (Riblet and Mitchell, 1971). It would appear preferable therefore to avoid the term “jaw jerk” in in favour of less ambiguous terminology such as “jaw-closing” reflex or monosynaptic myotatic reflex potential (MSP; Widlam, 1976a and b). The jaw-closing reflex is considered a fundamental phenomenon of the facial and oropharyngeal areas (Dubner, Sessle and Stoery, 1978) as it utilises afferent and efferent components involved in the generation, learning and modulation of programmed jaw movement sequences. Thus the reflex would appear to form the basis of more complex functions such as mastication and swallowing (Sessle, 1981), although the response itself probably appears only infrequently in normal function. A downwards tap delivered to the chin in a relaxed human subject causes muscle stretch and this produces an afferent projection along group Ia and group II pathways (Figure:1) which in turn exert monsynaptic and polysynaptic influences on motoneurones in the trigeminal motor nucleus. Inter-segmental and suprasegmental projections onto alpha and fusimotoneurones located in this motor nucleus (Greenwood and Sessle, 1976; Sessle, 1977a and b) modulate ongoing motoneurone excitability thus influencing the mainifestation of evoked monosynaptic reflexes.

Master of Dental Surgery / A study of the masticatory apparatus can be divided into the following sections:- Bony structure Teeth and supporting structures Temporomandibular articulation (and ligaments) Muscles of mastication (elevation and depression) Muscles of facial expression and deglutition Neurology Vascular and lymphatic supply This work is concerned with the muscles of mastication and the positions and movements of the mandible for which they are responsible. It is of course impossible to divorce this particular aspect from the others, as they are all completely interdependent, and, in particular, a study of the neurology is essential for an understanding of the function of the muscles of mastication. When all parts of the apparatus are in the correct functional relationship they operate with the greatest efficiency and the least effort. The jaws and neuromuscular system should be in correct relationship to avoid neuromuscular tension and damage to the component parts of the masticatory system.