HUMAN ANATOMY BY CATEGORY
Head Anatomy
Neck Anatomy
Shoulder Anatomy
Back Anatomy
Chest Anatomy
Abdominal Anatomy
Hip Anatomy
Upper Leg Anatomy
Knee Anatomy
Lower Leg Anatomy
Ankle Anatomy
Foot Anatomy
Upper Arm Anatomy
Elbow Anatomy
Forearm Anatomy
Wrist Anatomy
Hand Anatomy
Skin Anatomy
Internal Organ Anatomy
Jaw Anatomy
Anatomy of the Jaw
The jaw is broken down into two separate segments: the upper jaw and the lower jaw. The upper jaw is made up of the maxillary and palatine bones, which also help to form the bony roof of the mouth. In addition to the bones that help make up the upper jaw, the lower jaw is formed by the mandible. The muscles of the jaw are known as the muscles of mastication, and include the medial and lateral pterygoid, masseter, and temporalis muscles. Based on force per unit of mass, the masseter muscle of the jaw is said to be the
strongest muscle in the body
. It also important to note that the mandible is connected to the temporal bones on each side, and it is this connection that allows the mandible to move up and down or side to side, which are the required movements while speaking or eating.
Related Injuries
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Jaw Fracture
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Skull Fracture
Related Surgeries
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Skull Fracture Repair
Referenced Material
Anatomica’s Body Atlas. (2002). San Diego, CA: Thunder Bay Press (pg. 91, 138-139)