Lower jaw

Lower Jaw

The lower jaw or mandible is the largest, strongest and lowest bone in the human face. It forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place. The mandible sits beneath the maxilla. It is the only movable bone of the skull (discounting the ossicles of the middle ear).

Anatomy

The mandible consists of:

• The body, which forms the chin.
• The ramus (plural rami), which ascends from the body and ends in the coronoid process and condyloid process.
• The alveolar process, which contains the sockets of the teeth.
• The mental protuberance, the point of the chin.

Function

The mandible plays a vital role in many common tasks, including chewing, speech, and facial expression.

Clinical significance

Diseases of the jaw include:

• Fractures. The mandible may be fractured at the neck due to a direct blow or due to indirect trauma.
• Osteonecrosis. This is usually caused by bisphosphonates and denosumab.
• Infections. Infections can lead to a pus-filled abscess.
• Tumors including osteosarcomas, Ewing sarcomas, and other malignancies can occur.

See also

• Maxilla
• Human skull
• Osteonecrosis
• Osteosarcoma
• Ewing's sarcoma

References

Lower jaw Resources
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