Physiology of feeding in miniature pigs

The anatomy and physiology of feeding in miniature swine were studied, using gross dissection, electromyography, cinematography, and cineradiography. Small particles are preferred for ingestion, and large items are usually broken down outside of the oral cavity. The particles are initially picked up with the lower lip and then retrieved by the tongue; the tongue very rarely leaves the oral cavity. Geniohyoid, mylohyoid and digastric are the most active muscles during food collection. Mastication is fairly rapid (3 cycles/sec) and involves a transverse component which may be either medially or laterally directed. The direction of motion is generally reversed with every chew. Electromyography indicates that the transverse rotation is caused by a force couple consisting of protrusors (masseter, medial and lateral pterygoids) on one side and retrusors (zygomaticomandibularis and temporalis) on the other. The direction of the rotation is not necessarily related to the side containing the bolus. Mandibular depression is electromyographically biphasic. Concurrent tongue and hyoid movements complicate the interpretation of activity patterns in the oral floor. Both masticated food and liquid are stored between the tongue and the soft palate and epiglottis before being swallowed. Swallowing involves very strong activity in all of the hyoid and tongue muscles and very low activity in the adductors. Liquid is taken in by suction rather than lapping. Comparisons with other mammals are presented.