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Peer-reviewedCC BYScientific Reports

Intramuscular innervation of the human masseter muscle: whole-mount Sihler analysis and a field-of-view–based descriptive framework

  • Łukasz Olewnik1
  • Ingrid C. Landfald1
  • Lyubomir Gaydarski2
  • Yuriy Vasil’ev2
  • Michał Podgórski3
  1. 1Department of Clinical Anatomy, Mazovian University in Plock
  2. 2Variantis Research Laboratory, Mazovian University in Plock
  3. 3Department of Radiology, Medical University of Lodz
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Abstract

Prior Sihler-based and landmark-referenced studies have described intramuscular innervation of the human masseter. However, bilateral series-based descriptions focused on within-field arborisation morphology and the distribution of terminal branching within a standardised field of view remain limited. We analysed 60 masseter muscles from 30 adult body donors using a modified Sihler whole-mount staining protocol. A standardised circular field of view was evaluated to (1) classify within-field branching morphology and (2) localise the region of highest terminal arborisation density (HTAD) within the field. Two recurring within-field branching patterns were classified according to predefined morphological criteria: Type I, characterised by a compact branching configuration, and Type II, characterised by a broader fan-like/tree-like branching configuration within the photographed field. Type I predominated (n = 24/30; 80%), whereas Type II was less frequent (n = 6/30; 20%). The within-field pattern was bilaterally concordant in all individuals. The HTAD region was described using an operational sector-based definition within the photographed field-of-view and may provide a descriptive reference for understanding visible terminal arborisation morphology. These findings support hypothesis generation and highlight the need for future landmark-referenced whole-muscle studies to relate within-field branching patterns to motor entry points, functional correlates and clinically validated applications.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{olewnik2026intramuscular,
  title = {{Intramuscular innervation of the human masseter muscle: whole-mount Sihler analysis and a field-of-view–based descriptive framework}},
  author = {Łukasz Olewnik and Ingrid C. Landfald and Lyubomir Gaydarski and Yuriy Vasil’ev and Michał Podgórski},
  journal = {Scientific Reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = jun,
  doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-54429-9},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-54429-9},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Intramuscular innervation of the human masseter muscle: whole-mount Sihler analysis and a field-of-view–based descriptive framework
AU  - Łukasz Olewnik
AU  - Ingrid C. Landfald
AU  - Lyubomir Gaydarski
AU  - Yuriy Vasil’ev
AU  - Michał Podgórski
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/01
JO  - Scientific Reports
DO  - 10.1038/s41598-026-54429-9
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-54429-9
AB  - Prior Sihler-based and landmark-referenced studies have described intramuscular innervation of the human masseter. However, bilateral series-based descriptions focused on within-field arborisation morphology and the distribution of terminal branching within a standardised field of view remain limited. We analysed 60 masseter muscles from 30 adult body donors using a modified Sihler whole-mount staining protocol. A standardised circular field of view was evaluated to (1) classify within-field branching morphology and (2) localise the region of highest terminal arborisation density (HTAD) within the field. Two recurring within-field branching patterns were classified according to predefined morphological criteria: Type I, characterised by a compact branching configuration, and Type II, characterised by a broader fan-like/tree-like branching configuration within the photographed field. Type I predominated (n = 24/30; 80%), whereas Type II was less frequent (n = 6/30; 20%). The within-field pattern was bilaterally concordant in all individuals. The HTAD region was described using an operational sector-based definition within the photographed field-of-view and may provide a descriptive reference for understanding visible terminal arborisation morphology. These findings support hypothesis generation and highlight the need for future landmark-referenced whole-muscle studies to relate within-field branching patterns to motor entry points, functional correlates and clinically validated applications.
SN  - 2045-2322
ER  -