The power of the jaw (the human jaw is stronger than you might think) Did you know that the human jaw is capable of exerting up to 125 kg of force in a single bite? On average, the female bite registers at 50 kg, while the male bite registers at 70 kg.
The average human bite force is between 120-160 PSI (pounds per square inch). However, this pales in comparison to many wild animals, many of which use their teeth not only to chew, but also to grip and tear.
In August 1986, Richard Hofmann (b. 1949) of Lake City, Florida, USA, achieved a bite strength of 442 kg (975 lb) for approximately 2 sec in a research test using a gnathodynamometer at the College of Dentistry, University of Florida, USA.
In reality: Yes, you probably can devour a finger, but it's not comparable to chomping on a vegetable, and gnawing on your own digit would require a substantial commitment to searing pain.
What is the bite force of a human? Although we have a bite force stronger than some of our other primate relatives, the average human bite force is 162psi.
Human bites are often more dangerous than animal bites because the human mouth has more bacteria in it than most animals' mouths. It is very easy for a human bite to become infected.
Our second molars can exert a bite force between 1,100 and 1,300 Newtons, beating the orang-utan, gibbon and Australopithecus but lagging behind the gorilla, chimp and Paranthropus. These forces are roughly what you'd expect for a primate of our size.
A human bite can break, puncture, or tear the skin. Bites that break the skin can be very serious because of the risk for infection.
Strength changes
Compared to our closest living relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos, Homo sapiens' skeletal muscle is on average about 1.35 to 1.5 times weaker when normalized for size.
Compared with other mammals (like dogs and bears), humans don't have the strongest bite. Scientists measure the amount of pressure exerted by an animal's bite in pounds per square inch (psi). The human bite force is 162 psi.
Human bites can be as dangerous as or even more dangerous than animal bites because of the types of bacteria and viruses contained in the human mouth.
MODERN HUMANS CAN BITE off more than apes can chew, according to new research. Australian scientists have found that the relatively light human skull has a far more efficient bite compared to the jaws of chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans.
The "winners"—saltwater crocodiles—slammed their jaws shut with 3,700 pounds per square inch (psi), or 16,460 newtons, of bite force. By contrast, you might tear into a steak with 150 to 200 psi (890 newtons). Hyenas, lions, and tigers generate around 1,000 psi (4,450 newtons).
rex—about 35,000 newtons— or to the puny biting power of humans: 300 newtons. Previous bite force estimates for juvenile T. rexes—based on reconstruction of the jaw muscles or from mathematically scaling down the bite force of adult T. rexes—were considerably less, about 4,000 newtons.
In recent studies, it was found that men registered an average bit force of 150 pounds of pressure with the molars and 83 with the incisors, while women registered at 108 pounds with the molars and 57 with the incisors.
Megalodon jaws
Humans have been measured with a bite force of around 1,317 Newtons (N), while great white sharks have been predicted to be able to bite down with a force of 18,216N. Researchers have estimated that megalodon had a bite of between 108,514 and 182,201N.
Broadly speaking, evolution simply means the gradual change in the genetics of a population over time. From that standpoint, human beings are constantly evolving and will continue to do so long as we continue to successfully reproduce.
Human bite wounds may not seem dangerous, but the risk of infection is high. These wounds contain very high levels of bacteria. Even though the wound may appear minor, an infection can lead to a severe joint infection. About one third of all hand infections are caused by human bite wounds.
It is best to leave the wound uncovered until checked by a doctor. Apply ice for pain relief: Wrap some ice in a towel and apply it to the area. This will ease the pain and help keep the swelling down. Do not apply ice directly on the skin because it may freeze the skin.
Your wound may heal in less than a week, or it may take longer, depending on how bad it is. The larger it is, the longer it will take to heal. The doctor has checked you carefully, but problems can develop later. If you notice any problems or new symptoms, get medical treatment right away.
To give you a comparison, humans have an average bite force of 120-140 psi, and the Nile Crocodile has a bite force of 5,000 psi. The bite force of average dogs ranges somewhere around 230-250 psi, but some have more strength.
While some animals, like alligators and lions, can chomp down with over 1,000 pounds of force, the average human bite force is only around 200–300 pounds of force. The big difference may seem strange, but there's a good reason for it.