Orientation of the masseter muscle and the curve of Spee in relation to crushing forces on the molar teeth of primates

Abstract

A highly significant correlation is demonstrated between the forward inclination of the superficial masseter muscle and the forward tilt of molar teeth in the sagittal plane, conforming to the posterior end of the curve of Spee. The skulls studied included New and Old World monkeys, anthropoid apes, man, and a selection of other mammals. There was a wide variation between the angles measured in different animals (from 54 degrees to 115 degrees). The tilt of the curve of Spee increases the crush/shear ratio of the force produced on food between the posterior molars. The parallel tilt of superficial masseter maximizes the efficiency with which this muscle contributes to the crush component of the bite force in the sagittal plane.