Which bone forms the lower jaw in the human skeleton?

The mandible forms the lower jaw in the human skeleton.

It is the largest and strongest bone of the facial skeleton and supports the lower teeth. The mandible has a horizontal body and two upward branches called rami. Each ramus ends in a condylar process, which participates in the temporomandibular joint, and a coronoid process, which provides attachment for a chewing muscle.

Unlike the other bones of the skull, the mandible is normally movable. Its joints allow the mouth to open and close and permit forward, backward, and side-to-side movements used in chewing and speech. The maxilla forms the upper jaw and is fused to the rest of the facial skeleton.

The mandible begins as two developing halves that join at the midline during early life. Its shape and density change with age, tooth loss, and bone remodeling. Problems involving the temporomandibular joint can cause jaw pain, clicking, or limited movement.