Mandible

The mandible is the strongest and most massive bone in the face. It forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place. The mandible is the only movable bone of the 22 bones that make up the skull. The mandible is important for chewing, speaking, and making facial expression.

Condyles are present at the upper left and right sides of the mandible. These condyles mate with the temporal bones in the skull to form the temporomandibular joints (TMJ).  TMJ disorders can cause pain in the jaw joint and in the associated muscles.