Masseter

The masseter is a thick, powerful muscle located on the sides of your jaw. Its primary function is to enable chewing by lifting the lower jaw to close the mouth, allowing you to bite and chew food effectively. It works in coordination with other jaw muscles to facilitate movements like grinding and clenching. The masseter is one of the strongest muscles in the body relative to its size, essential for breaking down food to aid digestion. It is covered by facial skin and can sometimes become tender or sore from heavy use, teeth grinding, or tension.