OET Vocabulary, Word of the Day
Jaw โ Meaning and Usage in Medical English
Nov
๐ What Does โJawโ Mean?
The jaw refers to the bone that forms the lower part of the face and holds the lower teeth.
In anatomy, itโs known as the mandible, while the upper jaw is called the maxilla. The word comes from Old English ceowan, meaning โto chew,โ which perfectly describes its function.
In medicine and dentistry, the term appears frequently when describing facial structure, injury, or movement.
๐ Clinical Usage
In clinical communication, jaw is used to describe both anatomical structure and functional movement.
Youโll find it mentioned in nursing notes, radiology reports, and oral surgery records โ often when referring to pain, swelling, or limited motion in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
Healthcare professionals may document observations like:
- โJaw tenderness noted over the right TMJ.โ
- โLimited jaw opening due to pain.โ
- โJaw deviation observed on mouth opening.โ
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:
โThe patient reports pain when opening the jaw, suggesting possible TMJ dysfunction.โ
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๐ Watch our 30-second clip: Jaw โ Learn how to pronounce it and remember how itโs used in real medical English.
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