Removal of the Temporalis Muscle from Its Origin: Effects on the Size and Shape of the Coronoid Process

¹ Department of Anatomy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Removal of the origin of the temporalis muscle from the skull to decrease or eliminate muscle tension, while still maintaining an intact blood supply, does not cause any changes in the size or shape of the coronoid process in the majority of experimental animals. Removal of the masticatory muscles from the mandible eliminates the blood supply to the regions of insertion and the conclusion drawn from these types of experiments —that muscle tension is needed for maintenance of bony processes—is open to question.