mandible

(noun)

The lower jaw, especially the lower jawbone.

Related Terms

Examples of mandible in the following topics:

  • Facial Bones

    • The viscerocranium (face) includes: vomer, 2 inferior nasal conchae, 2 nasals, maxilla, mandible, palatine, 2 zygomatics, and 2 lacrimals.
    • Finally, the mandible forms the lower jaw of the skull.
    • The joint between the mandible and the temporal bones of the neurocranium, known as the temporomandibular joint, forms the only non-sutured joint in the skull.
    • Others, like the mandible and vomer, are singular.

  • General Features and Functions of the Skull

    • The skull is formed of several bones which, with the exception of the mandible, are joined together by sutures, which are synarthrodial (immovable) joints.
    • The viscerocranium bones form the anterior and lower regions of the skull and include the mandible, which attaches through the only truly motile joint found in the skull.
    • The facial skeleton contains the vomer, two nasal conchae, two nasal bones, two maxilla, the mandible, two palatine bones, two zygomatic bones, and two lacrimal bones.
    • The face is made of 2 nasal, 2 lacrimal, 2 palantine, 2 inferior nasal concha, 2 zygomatic, 2 maxilla, 1 mandible, and 1 vomer.

  • Neck Muscles

    • The anterior section originates from the mandible and the posterior section from the skull.
    • It originates from the mandible and attaches to the hyoid bone.
    • Geniohyoid – The deepest of the suprahyoid muscles, the geniohyoid muscle originates from the mandible and attaches to the hyoid bone.
    • Attachments – Dual-headed, the sternocleidomastoid originates from the clavicle and the sternum and attaches to the mandible.
    • Actions – Depresses the mandible and angles the lip and mouth, wrinkling the skin upon the neck flexing.

  • Dislocated Mandible

    • A dislocated mandible or jaw occurs at the temporomandibular joint: the mandibular condyles and the temporal bone fail to align correctly.
    • When a person has a dislocated mandible or jaw, it is difficult to open and close the mouth.
    • The muscles that are affected during anterior jaw dislocation are the masseter and temporalis, which pull up on the mandible, and the lateral pterygoid, which relaxes the mandibular condyle.

  • Dental Anesthesia

    • The inferior alveolar nerve runs from the angle of the mandible down the medial aspect of the mandible, innervating the lower teeth, lower lip, chin, and tongue.
    • Nerves lying near the point where the inferior alveolar nerve enters the mandible often are also anesthetized during inferior alveolar anesthesia.

  • Gomphoses

    • A gomphosis is a fibrous joint that binds the teeth to bony sockets in the bones of the maxilla mandible.

  • Orthodontics

    • Orthodontics is a dental specialty concerned with malocclusions caused by improperly sited teeth and/or problems with the mandible.

  • Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)

    • Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD or TMJ) syndrome is an umbrella term covering acute or chronic pain primarily in the muscles of mastication, and/or inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the mandible to the skull.

  • The Hyoid Bone

    • Located anteriorly between the mandible and the thyroid cartilage, the hyoid bone protects the esophagus and also facilitates the wide range of muscle activity required for speaking and swallowing.

  • Veins of the Head and Neck

    • The superficial external jugular vein is formed from the retro-mandibular vein and the posterior auricular vein at a point adjacent to the mandible.