Temporomandibular joint - structure, movements

The temporomandibular joint connects the skull and the mandible together. This joint allows for important movements to be made by the jaw.

Contents 1 Overview 2 Movements 3 Links 3.1 Bibliography

edit Overview

• The upper part of the joint allows the head of the mandible to protrude onto the articular tubercle and retract back into the mandibular fossa
• It is a condyloid synovial joint
• The joint allows the jaw to open to more than 15°

Ligaments: sphenomandibular, stylomandibular and lateral ligaments

edit Movements

• Depression by digastric, geniohyoid and mylohyoid muscles
• Elevation by temporalis, masseter and medial pterygoid muscles
• Protrusion by lateral and medial pterygoid muscles
• Retraction by temporalis, masseter, digastric and geniohyoid muscles

edit Links

edit Bibliography

SNELL, Richard S. Clinical Anatomy by Regions. 8th Edition edition. 2004. ISBN 978-0-7817-6404-9.