Illustration copyright 2000 by Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.com
The temporomandibular (TM) joints join the skull and lower jawbone (mandible). These gliding “ball and socket” joints are located just in front of each ear, and they move when a person opens and closes their mouth.
The TM joints are stabilized by muscles that attach directly to the jawbone. They are separated by a disc made of cartilage, which keeps the two bones from rubbing together.
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Steven K. Patterson, BS, DDS, MPH - Dentistry |
| Last Revised | January 13, 2010 |
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