What is mastication & deglutition?

Deglutition is the transport of a bolus of food or liquid from the mouth to the stomach. After prehension and mastication the food bolus stimulates sensory receptors in the oropharynx that inhibit the muscles of mastication and allows swallowing to occur.

What is the mastication process?

Chewing or mastication is the process by which food is crushed and ground by teeth. As chewing continues, the food is made softer and warmer, and the enzymes in saliva begin to break down carbohydrates in the food. After chewing, the food (now called a bolus) is swallowed.

What part of the digestive system is responsible for mastication?

The oral cavity, or mouth, is the point of entry of food into the digestive system, illustrated in Figure 1. The food consumed is broken into smaller particles by mastication, the chewing action of the teeth. All mammals have teeth and can chew their food.

Can you masticate without teeth?

“A patient with no teeth is not capable of managing solid consistencies.” “Edentulous patients should be on a puréed diet.”

What is mastication and where does it occur?

Mastication (chewing), in which food is crushed and mixed with saliva to form a bolus for swallowing, is a complex mechanism involving opening and closing of the jaw, secretion of saliva, and mixing of food with the tongue. Control system of mastication. Mastication is programed in the lower brainstem.

What is the function of mastication muscle?

Introduction and Overview. The muscles of mastication are a group of muscles responsible for the chewing movement of the mandible at the temporomandibular (TMJ) joint, they enhance the process of eating, they assist in grinding food, and also function to approximate the teeth.

What is mastication and how long does it take?

A Mastication Cycle is comprised of three phases: Opening Time (OT), Closing Time (CT) and Occlusal Time (OcT). Normal cycle time varies from 600-900 milliseconds. Of this total cycle time, OT is roughly 1/3, CT is slightly more than 1/3 (as the bolus is compressed) and OcT is a bit less than 1/3.

What is the purpose of mastication?

Mastication is a vital function that ensures that ingested food is broken down into pieces and prepared for digestion.

How important is mastication?

Mastication, or chewing your food, is an essential part of the digestive process. Mastication prepares your food for swallowing, helps get the digestive process started, makes it easier to absorb nutrients and helps promote feelings of fullness after eating.