Where it is
The jaw joint, below the ear, behind the zygomatic arch.
- Layer
- Skeleton
- System
- Axial skeleton
- Region
- Head
What it is and what it does
The joint between the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone and the condylar process of the mandible; it allows the mouth to open and close. The temporalis muscle guards it against forward luxation. It can be felt under the skin, in front of the ear, when the dog opens its mouth.
It is a paired synovial joint, divided by a fibrocartilaginous disc into two compartments that do not communicate, a dorsal one, on the temporal bone side, and a ventral one, on the mandible side; the fibrous capsule attaches all around the disc. In the dog it works almost like a hinge: it opens and closes the mouth, with minimal forward, backward or sideways movement.
The mandibular fossa belongs to the squamous part of the temporal bone, and the retroarticular process behind it, when well developed, is the sign of a stable joint. In a CT study of 91 dogs, brachycephalic skulls had significantly flatter and smaller mandibular fossae, and a poorly developed retroarticular process was linked to a higher risk of joint problems.
Worth remembering
It can be felt under the skin, in front of the ear, when the dog opens its mouth.
Names
- Latin term: articulatio temporomandibularis.
- In Romanian: Articulația temporo-mandibulară (Romanian page).