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).

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.

Human lower jaw viewed from the left The jaws are a pair of opposable articulated structures at the entrance of the mouth, typically used for grasping and manipulating food.

Understanding Jaw (Orthognathic) Anatomy and Problems 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 …

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ), or jaw joint, is a synovial joint that allows the complex movements necessary for life. It is the joint between condylar head of the mandible and the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone.

Apr 1, 2023 · Jaw Anatomy, Medial Aspect. Jaw anatomy includes the mandible, capsular ligament, spine of the sphenoid, styloid process, stylomandibular ligament, mandible foramen, and mylohyoid groove.

Jan 20, 2025 · Having a basic knowledge of the anatomy of the jaw helps patients better communicate their symptoms, participate in treatment decisions, and actively manage their condition. The goal of this article is to help TMJ patients understand how their jaw muscles and joints work together.

Jul 17, 2023 · These structures are the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), jaw and mandible, muscle tissues and tendons, dental arches, salivary glands, as well as the hyoid bone and the muscles that connect the latter to the scapula and the sternum, the muscles of the neck.

Feb 25, 2023 · Jaw, one of the two bones that form the framework of the mouth in vertebrates, the mandible and the maxilla; the mandible is the lower jaw and the maxilla is the upper jaw. Biting, chewing, and manipulating food all require functional jaws that move in different directions.

Apr 10, 2025 · A jawbone dredged up from the seafloor off Taiwan belongs to an ancient human species known as Denisovans, protein fragments extracted from the fossil have revealed.