Which bone is the lower jaw bone?

Which bone is the lower jaw bone?

• A. Mandible
• B. Maxilla
• C. Zygomatic
• D. Temporal

Answer: (A)

The lower jaw is the mandible—the bone that houses the lower teeth and moves during chewing. It’s the only movable bone of the skull, forming the temporomandibular joint with the temporal bone to enable biting and speaking motions. In contrast, the maxilla forms the upper jaw, the zygomatic bones are the cheekbones, and the temporal bone sits at the side of the skull and includes structures of the ear while contributing to the jaw joint but not serving as the jaw itself.

The lower jaw is the mandible—the bone that houses the lower teeth and moves during chewing. It’s the only movable bone of the skull, forming the temporomandibular joint with the temporal bone to enable biting and speaking motions. In contrast, the maxilla forms the upper jaw, the zygomatic bones are the cheekbones, and the temporal bone sits at the side of the skull and includes structures of the ear while contributing to the jaw joint but not serving as the jaw itself.