Mandible

Written by Tele Demetrious

Updated:

Relevant Bony Anatomy

The mandible (jawbone) is the bony structure of the lower jaw and lowest aspect of the face. It is the largest and strongest of the facial bones and provides sockets (known as alveolar processes) to hold the lower teeth in place. The mandible primarily acts to support the lower aspect of the face, provide a fixation point for the lower teeth, allow jaw movement during speech and mastication (chewing) and is essential for other movements of the mouth (such as yawning).

The mandible forms the lower aspect of the skull and consists of two parts: a horizontal part called the body, and two vertical parts called rami which ascend almost vertically from the back of the mandibular body. The top of each ramus contains two bony prominences known as the condylar and coronoid processes.

Anatomy of the Mandible

                              

Figure 1 – Relevant Anatomy of the Mandible


Location

The mandible is located at the bottom aspect of the skull and forms the lower jaw bone (figure 1).



Forms Joints With

The mandible forms joints with the temporal bone of the cranium at the Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ)


Major Muscular Attachments


Related Injuries

 

  Related injuries



Relevant Physiotherapy Exercises

 

  Relevant Physiotherapy Exercises


Recommended Reading

  Recommended Reading


Find a Physio

  Find a Physio

Find a physiotherapist in your local area who can diagnose and treat sports and spinal injuries and provide education on the anatomy of the mandible and skull.


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<a href="https://physioadvisor.com.au/health/anatomy/bones/mandible”>Mandible – PhysioAdvisor.com</a><br/>PhysioAdvisor provides detailed physiotherapy information on the human anatomy of the mandible (lower jaw). Including location, joints, muscular attachments, relevant injuries and more...

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