mouth and jaws | Biomechanics in the Wild

Colossal Predators: What does a Crocodile’s Bite Force and Jaw Shape say about its Diet?

Crocodiles have been an apex predator since the age of the dinosaurs, and there is no questioning what is keeping them at the top of the food chain: their jaws. A crocodile’s jaw is capable of snapping shut on their prey with extremely large forces. In fact, the American Saltwater Crocodile’s bite force is the strongest of all measured animals on the planet, weighing in at 3,700psi!

The question is: what attribute of the crocodile contributes most to this bite force?

“Ant Power Unleashed: The Secret of Muscle and Scale”

Image credit: Pixabay (adopted from Leuzinger 2022)

Ever wondered how ants generate such extraordinary force despite their size? Beyond curiosity, understanding their biomechanics can inspire real-world advancements in fields like micro-robotics, bio-engineering, materials science, and prosthetics. Discover how these tiny powerhouses hold the key to strength, efficiency, and adaptability.

How Do Chameleons Catch Food with Their Tongues?

Have you ever wondered how chameleons are able to shoot out their tongues, grab a snack, and bring it back to their mouths? That skill is all thanks to the chameleon tongue’s unique mix of special muscles. Their ability to use their tongue for grocery shopping is essential for their survival, and the way it works is fascinating!

Invisalign: A Perfect Alternative to Traditional Dental Braces?

Did you ever have dental braces as a child, or perhaps later in life?

If so, then you were experiencing biomechanical forces in motion within the confines of your own mouth! The mechanical basis of dental braces is actually quite simple: brackets and wires apply forces and moments to your teeth in order to push, pull, or rotate them into their proper positions. Since 1998, the “Invisalign” technology has offered the aesthetically pleasing alternative of clear (invisible) retainer trays in order to satisfy a growing societal distaste for the visual appearance of traditional braces. Perhaps those who remember the social anxiety that came with having braces (especially at a younger age) might be jealous of this new alternative! But is this technology just as effective as traditional treatment?

The Fastest Animal in the World?

The Dracula Ant or Mystrium Camillae is the fastest animal in the world thanks to its spring loaded snap which travels over 200 miles per hour or 90 meters per second. In this video we briefly explore how this is possible.

Not Everyone Breathes While they Sleep: The Dangers of Sleep Apnea

You might think that breathing in our sleep should come naturally – if breathing and sleeping are both physiologically necessary, then we must be able to do them simultaneously right? Unfortunately, almost a quarter of middle-aged American men and nearly 10% of women suffer from sleep apnea, a chronic condition characterized by repeatedly stopping breathing while sleeping. The clinical symptoms seem rather benign – snoring, sleepiness, fatigue during the day or other issues sleeping. However, by far the most dangerous aspect of this disease is that it puts patients at increased risk of high blood pressure, stroke, coronary heart disease, as well as occupational and/or automobile accidents. Over the last several decades, a variety of therapy options have been studied to treat this condition, ranging from drugs to masks to surgery.

Tag: mouth and jaws