Electromyographic evidence for functional heterogeneity in the inferior head of the human lateral pterygoid muscle: a preliminary multi-unit study

Objective: Functional heterogeneity, i.e. regional or selective activation of subpopulations of fibres within a muscle, has been described in some jaw and limb muscles. Each head of the lateral pterygoid muscle may also be fu nctionally heterogeneous. The aims of this investigation were to develop a technique to test this hypothesis, and to use this technique to determine w hether there is any multi-unit electromyographic (EMG) evidence for functio nal heterogeneity within the inferior head of the lateral pterygoid (IHLP). Methods: In 3 human subjects without craniomandibular disorders, recordings were made of condylar movement and multi-unit EMC activity from two sites in the IHLP during repeated trials of a contralateral (n = 21) and a protru sive (n = 26) jaw movement. The recording sites within IHLP were approached extraorally (labelled IHLF-extra) and were verified by computer tomography (CT); the other (IHLP-intra) were from sites in IHLF approached intraorall y. Results: In each subject, the time of occurrence of the peak filtered signa l from IHLP-extra was significantly different (P < 0.05) from IHLP-intra fo r all protrusion trials but not for contralateral trials. Conclusions: The data suggest a task-dependent change in motor unit recruit ment order within IHLP and that IHLP is functionally heterogeneous. (C) 199 9 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.