The jaws are a pair of opposable articulated structures at the entrance of the mouth, typically used for grasping and manipulating food. The term jaws is also broadly applied to the whole of the structures constituting the vault of the mouth and serving to open and close it and is part of the body plan of humans and most animals.

jaw, either of a pair of bones that form the framework of the mouth of vertebrate animals, usually containing teeth and including a movable lower jaw (mandible) and fixed upper jaw (maxilla). Jaws function by moving in opposition to each other and are used for …

Dec 3, 2020 · Jaw pain is any kind of pain or discomfort in the jaw area, which includes the lower jaw (mandible, often referred to as the jaw bone), temporomandibular joint (TMJ or jaw joint), and surrounding soft tissues. The jaw joint connects the lower jaw to the temporal bone of the skull and is responsible for bringing the lower and upper jaws together.

A jaw that’s too small, too large, or crooked can cause problems with chewing, speaking, breathing, and even sleeping. The shape of your jaws also affects the way your face looks. This sheet helps you understand how the teeth and jaws work.

In jawed vertebrates, the mandible (from the Latin mandibula, 'for chewing'), lower jaw, or jawbone is a bone that makes up the lower – and typically more mobile – component of the mouth (the upper jaw being known as the maxilla). The jawbone is the skull 's only movable, posable bone, sharing joints with the cranium's temporal bones.

Mar 11, 2025 · Human skeleton - Mandible, Muscles, Joints: The left and right halves of the lower jaw, or mandible, begin originally as two distinct bones, but in the second year of life the two bones fuse at the midline to form one. The horizontal …

Each human has two jaws - the upper and lower jaw. The upper jaw is formed by two paired maxillae fused with the sutures. The upper jaw is not movable as the maxilla is a fixated part of the skull. The lower jaw is formed by an unpaired mandible. In contrast to the maxilla, the mandible is movable.

Learn about the anatomy of the jaw and why it’s important. The jaw is made up of two main parts: Helps form the nose, palate, and orbit (bony socket housing the eyeballs and other supporting structures). Both bones have several muscles, nerves, and blood vessels attached that help keep the jaw hea lthy.

How the jaws work. The lower jaw holds the tongue, which moves freely as you speak and eat. The upper jaw shapes the floor of the nasal cavity, allowing normal airflow. Muscles usually are evenly developed on both sides of the face.

Jul 7, 2024 · In this article, we’ll delve into the intricate structure and function of the jaw, explore common problems that can arise, discuss medical and alternative treatments, offer prevention tips for maintaining a healthy jaw, and emphasize the importance of …