mascella

Mascella is a term used in Italian to refer to the jawbone, the central structure of the face that supports the teeth and shapes facial form. In human anatomy the jaw comprises two main bones: the maxilla, or upper jaw, and the mandible, or lower jaw.

The maxilla forms the upper dental arch and contributes to the orbital floor, nasal cavity walls, and the hard palate. It houses the upper teeth and articulates with several surrounding bones, including the nasal, lacrimal, ethmoid, palatine, zygomatic, and vomer bones. The mandible is a U-shaped bone that holds the lower dental arch and is the only movable skull bone, articulating with the temporal bones at the temporomandibular joints.

Both jaws contain alveolar processes that bear the teeth and protect important neural and vascular structures. The mandible features the mental protuberance at the chin and a corpus connected to the tooth-bearing sections by the alveolar ridges.

Developmentally, the upper and lower jawbones arise from neural crest cells, forming largely through intramembranous ossification. The mandible develops from Meckel’s cartilage in early life, while the maxilla forms directly from the surrounding soft tissues.

Clinically, mascella injuries commonly occur with facial trauma and can affect chewing, speech, or occlusion. Disorders of the jaw joints (temporomandibular disorders) can impair movement and cause pain. Congenital or acquired maxillary anomalies can impact facial symmetry and dental occlusion, sometimes necessitating surgical or orthodontic intervention.

See also: Mandible, Maxilla, Temporomandibular joint, Cleft palate.