A

During mastication the mandible bends so that the superior (alveolar) border is placed under tensile stress while the inferior (basilar) border is compressed. Biomechanical studies confirm maximal stretching/tension at the alveolar process and compression at the lower edge of the mandible [Artiushkevich, 1994, PMID 8048090; Yachouh, 2013, PMID 22901525].