Jaw – Meaning and Usage in Medical English

👁 What Does “Jaw” Mean?

The jaw refers to the bone that forms the lower part of the face and holds the lower teeth.

In anatomy, it’s known as the mandible, while the upper jaw is called the maxilla. The word comes from Old English ceowan, meaning “to chew,” which perfectly describes its function.

In medicine and dentistry, the term appears frequently when describing facial structure, injury, or movement.

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🔍 Clinical Usage

In clinical communication, jaw is used to describe both anatomical structure and functional movement.

You’ll find it mentioned in nursing notes, radiology reports, and oral surgery records — often when referring to pain, swelling, or limited motion in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Healthcare professionals may document observations like:

• “Jaw tenderness noted over the right TMJ.”
• “Limited jaw opening due to pain.”
• “Jaw deviation observed on mouth opening.”

Common related terms include:

Term	Meaning
Mandible	Lower jawbone
TMJ	Temporomandibular joint, connecting the jaw to the skull
Bruxism	Teeth grinding, often causing jaw pain
Lockjaw (trismus)	Inability to open the mouth fully, often due to muscle spasm

Example in context:

“The patient reports pain when opening the jaw, suggesting possible TMJ dysfunction.”

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🎥 Watch the Short Video

👉 Watch our 30-second clip: Jaw – Learn how to pronounce it and remember how it’s used in real medical English.

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