Alalõualuus

Alalõualuus refers to the mandible, which is the lower jawbone of the human skull. It is the largest and strongest bone in the face and plays a crucial role in mastication, speech, and facial structure. The mandible is a U-shaped bone consisting of a horizontal part called the body and a vertical part called the ramus. The body terminates at the chin, and the ramus extends superiorly to articulate with the temporal bone at the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

The mandible houses the lower teeth, embedded in the alveolar process, which is the superior border of the body. Muscles of mastication, such as the masseter, temporalis, and pterygoid muscles, attach to the mandible, enabling its movement for chewing. The bone also contains nerves and blood vessels that supply the lower teeth and jaw. Developmentally, the mandible begins as two separate halves that fuse during the first year of life. Fractures of the mandible are common due to trauma and can significantly impact an individual's ability to eat and speak. The TMJ, formed by the articulation of the mandibular condyle with the temporal bone, allows for complex movements of the lower jaw, including opening, closing, protrusion, retraction, and lateral excursion.