Organ: Jaw

Descriptions of Jaw

Jaw: the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth
Source: WordNet 2.1

Jaw : bony structure of the mouth that holds the teeth; consists of the mandible and the maxilla.
Source: CRISP

Jaw : Bony structure of the mouth that holds the teeth. It consists of the MANDIBLE and the MAXILLA.
Source: MESH OBO (Open Biomedical Ontologies)

Article Excerpts about Jaw

The temporomandibular joint's name is derived from the two bones that it connects. It joins the bone at the side of the head (temporal bone) to the lower jaw (mandible). This joint can be felt on either side of the head when placing a finger in front of each ear and opening the mouth.

Upon opening the mouth, the rounded end at the top of the lower jaw, known as the condyle, will glide along a groove in the temporal bone. Upon closing the mouth, the condyle will slide back to its original position. In order to preserve a smooth gliding motion, a very thin soft disc lies between the condyle and the temporal bone. This disc acts as a shock absorber for the TMJ during daily functions such as chewing, talking, and yawning. It is during these actions that the TMJ and its surrounding muscles may be affected, resulting in any one of a number of uncomfortable conditions including TMD. (Source: excerpt from TMD-TMJ (Jaw Disorders): NWHIC)

Summary Information: Jaw

Condition count: 8 ; see list below.

Organ subtypes: mandible (4)

Organ types: Dental (20)

Organs: list of all organs

Diseases List for Jaw:

The following list of medical conditions have 'Jaw' or similar listed as an affected body part in our database:

B