[Split line patterns in the mandible after transposition of the insertion of the masseter muscle in the adult rabbit]. / Padrões de linha de fenda da mandíbula após a transposição da inserção do músculo masséter no coelho adulto.

With the aim of studying in the fibrous structure of the compact bone, as revealed by the split-line technique, unilateral surgical transposition of the masseter muscle from the masseteric fossa to the central area of the mandibular body below the molar teeth was performed in seven adult rabbits. Six months later the animals were killed, their mandibles were removed, cleaned and then decalcified. Split-lines were made on the lateral surface of both the control and the operated side of the mandible. Myotransposition induced alterations in the split-line patterns; they showed to be entangled and disorganized, which mean structural changes in the bone itself.