underkävens

Underkävens is the Swedish word for the mandible, commonly known as the lower jawbone. This important bone forms the lower part of the skull and is the largest and strongest bone in the face. It is a U-shaped bone that houses the lower teeth. The underkävens consists of two main parts: the body and the ramus. The body is the horizontal part that forms the chin and holds the teeth, while the two rami extend vertically upwards from the posterior ends of the body.

At the top of each ramus are two processes: the coronoid process, which serves as an attachment point for chewing muscles, and the condylar process, which articulates with the temporal bone of the skull to form the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The TMJ is crucial for all movements of the lower jaw, including chewing, speaking, and yawning. The underkävens plays a vital role in facial structure, chewing function, and speech. It develops from cartilaginous precursors during embryonic development and fuses in the midline during infancy. Fractures of the underkävens are common and can result from trauma.