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Peer-reviewedCC BYDiagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)

Three-Part MRI Morphology of the Human Masseter Muscle: A Part-Dominance Classification

  • Adrian Okoń1
  • Ingrid C. Landfald1
  • Michał Podgórski2
  • Roman Frach2
  • George Triantafyllou3
  • Łukasz Olewnik1
  1. 1Department of Clinical Anatomy, Mazovian Academy in Płock, Plac Dąbrowskiego 2, 09-402 Płock, Poland; (A.O.); (I.C.L.)
  2. 2Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, , 90-419 Lodz, Poland; (M.P.); (R.F.)
  3. 3School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, , 11527 Athens, Greece
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Abstract

Background: A simple MRI-based framework for describing part-specific dominance patterns in the human masseter muscle is lacking. This study aimed to characterize its MRI-visible parts and develop a preliminary part-dominance classification. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analysed 58 clinical MRI examinations, comprising 116 masseter muscles with complete bilateral visualization. The three MRI-visible parts were identified on T2-weighted 3D coronal source images. Thickness and length were measured using a predefined study procedure, and each muscle was assigned a part-dominance type according to which part was thickest. Results: Three distinct parts were identified in all 116 muscles. The inferior part was thickest in 81 muscles (69.8%), the coronoid part in 31 (26.7%), and the middle part in 4 (3.4%). The inferior part was also the longest segment. Conclusions: In this dataset, the human masseter muscle showed a three-part MRI morphology. The findings provide a basis for a preliminary part-dominance classification for anatomical and radiological description. Functional, biomechanical, and clinical correlations require prospective validation.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{okon2026threepart,
  title = {{Three-Part MRI Morphology of the Human Masseter Muscle: A Part-Dominance Classification}},
  author = {Adrian Okoń and Ingrid C. Landfald and Michał Podgórski and Roman Frach and George Triantafyllou and Łukasz Olewnik},
  journal = {Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/diagnostics16203398},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13702961},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Three-Part MRI Morphology of the Human Masseter Muscle: A Part-Dominance Classification
AU  - Adrian Okoń
AU  - Ingrid C. Landfald
AU  - Michał Podgórski
AU  - Roman Frach
AU  - George Triantafyllou
AU  - Łukasz Olewnik
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
DO  - 10.3390/diagnostics16203398
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13702961
AB  - Background: A simple MRI-based framework for describing part-specific dominance patterns in the human masseter muscle is lacking. This study aimed to characterize its MRI-visible parts and develop a preliminary part-dominance classification. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analysed 58 clinical MRI examinations, comprising 116 masseter muscles with complete bilateral visualization. The three MRI-visible parts were identified on T2-weighted 3D coronal source images. Thickness and length were measured using a predefined study procedure, and each muscle was assigned a part-dominance type according to which part was thickest. Results: Three distinct parts were identified in all 116 muscles. The inferior part was thickest in 81 muscles (69.8%), the coronoid part in 31 (26.7%), and the middle part in 4 (3.4%). The inferior part was also the longest segment. Conclusions: In this dataset, the human masseter muscle showed a three-part MRI morphology. The findings provide a basis for a preliminary part-dominance classification for anatomical and radiological description. Functional, biomechanical, and clinical correlations require prospective validation.
SN  - 2075-4418
ER  -