01 / Location & anatomical relationships
In the lower and middle face, around your teeth.
02 / Structure & organization
The maxilla forms the upper jaw and contributes to the orbit and hard palate. The mandible has a body and two rami; each condylar process articulates with the temporal bone. An articular disc divides the temporomandibular joint.
03 / Function
Your lower jaw moves when you chew or talk.
04 / Mechanism
The upper jaw is fixed to the skull. The lower jaw moves at joints near your ears, guided by chewing muscles. It can move up and down and a little from side to side to break food down.
Part of a bigger picture
The jaw belongs in our head & face collection. Explore the nearby parts to see how this area of the body fits together.
Explore head & face →FOR DEEPER STUDY
Connect structure with function
Jaw opening combines rotation and translation. Chewing muscles guide these movements while the teeth, tongue and cheeks coordinate food positioning.
Check your understanding
Locate the jaw in relation to its neighbors. Explain how the structural features described above support its function, then distinguish it from a nearby structure with a different role.
Keep learning
Continue with OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology for system-level study. This atlas is educational and has not undergone independent medical peer review.