Lower jaw

Looks like

The mandible region: the horseshoe-shaped lower jawbone with its teeth, the only movable skull bone.

What it does

Opens and closes the mouth for chewing, speech and breathing.

Keeping it well

Often broken in two places after a blow. Numbness of the lower lip after a fracture or dental surgery points to the nerve inside it.

Related conditions

• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Burning mouth syndrome
• Hand, foot and mouth disease
• Lichen planus
• Mouth ulcers (aphthous stomatitis)
• Pemphigus vulgaris
• Stevens–Johnson syndrome / toxic epidermal necrolysis