Mastication reflex

Reflex activity under the control of brain stem. Mastication is basically voluntary but usually takes place involuntarily.

Mastication reflex or chewing reflex is by the rhythmic movement of the mandible.

Lowering of the mandible due to the extension of the tongue is known as linguo mandibular reflex.

Stimuli for masticatory reflex is the presence of food in the oral cavity

Receptors in the tongue and oral mucosa initiate mastication by the sense of food.

Sensory impulses are carried via trigeminal, facial and glossopharyngeal nerves to brain stem.

Motor orders reach masticatory muscles via trigeminal nerve

This inturn causes rhythmic movement of mandible in relation to the maxilla.

This results in shearing and crushing a food.

The main masticatory muscles supplied by trigeminal nerve include Temporalis with assistants from Massetor muscle for shearing and Massetor with assistants from Pterygoid muscles for grinding.