Masticatory stress on cranial bones: a holographic study

The effects of unilateral simulated masseter muscle activity on the dorsal and lateral skull bone surfaces of a European moose have been investigated in this study by means of holographic nondestructive testing (HNDT). These effects could be seen over the whole of the skull surface with varying intensity depending on the stability of bone and suture structures. Areas of rapid surface movements were observed rostrally from the masseter muscle attachment surface and around the nasofrontal junction. It was concluded that there may be a causative connection between masseter forces and the variation of nasal region bone structures of the European moose not observed in other mammal species.