The tongue occupies the floor of the oral cavity. It is divided into an anterior two-thirds (the oral part) and a posterior third (the pharyngeal part) by a prominent sulcus terminalis. The oral part has a velvety appearance, being covered by small projections called papillae. Most of these are pointed filiform papillae, with numerous mushroom-shaped and taste bud-containing fungiform papillae interspersed among them. The pharyngeal … Continue reading Tongue

Each temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a condyloid joint between the head of the mandible and the articular tubercle on the inferior surface of the temporal bone. As an atypical synovial joint, an intra-articular fibrocartilaginous disc divides the joint into upper and lower cavities and its articular surfaces are covered by fibrocartilage instead of hyaline cartilage. Mechanics of mandibular movement Movements of the TMJ normally result … Continue reading Temporomandibular joint

Instead of being connected by sutures, the mandible is the only movable skull bone, articulating via the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) with the temporal bone. It may be depressed, elevated, protruded, retracted and even move side to side during grinding movements. On each side, a ramus joins the a horseshoe-shaped body an inclination, forming the mandibular angle. Notable landmarks of each ramus include the head (articulates … Continue reading Mandible

Movements of the mandible are mostly mediated by the muscles of mastication, and include: depression, elevation, protrusion, retraction and side to side grinding movements. Although depression can passively occur with gravity, it is actively mediated by the condyles being pulled forwards by the lateral pterygoid while the mandibular body pulled downwards by the digastric and infrahyoid muscles. Elevation is produced by masseter, temporalis, and medial … Continue reading Mandibular movements