noun
- a large muscle that extends from the cheekbone to the lower jaw and is used in chewing
Usage: anatomy
Examples
- The masseter is one of the strongest muscles in the human body.
- Dentists often examine the masseter when checking for jaw problems.
- Clenching your teeth can cause tension in the masseter muscle.
- The masseter helps move the jaw up and down during chewing.
- Pain in the masseter can result from grinding teeth at night.
- Physical therapists sometimes massage the masseter to relieve jaw tension.