Which bone is the lower jaw bone and the only movable bone of the skull?

Prepare for the VTCT Level 2 Facial and Skincare Test. Revise with flashcards and multiple choice questions, accompanied by insightful explanations. Ace your assessment with confidence!

Multiple Choice

Which bone is the lower jaw bone and the only movable bone of the skull?

The thing being tested is identifying the mandible as the lower jaw bone and recognizing why it can move while the rest of the skull cannot. The mandible is the bone that forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth. It moves because it forms a synovial hinge joint with the temporal bones called the temporomandibular joint, which allows opening, closing, and some side-to-side movement of the jaw. In contrast, the other options—the upper jaw bone (maxilla), the cheekbone (zygomatic), and the nasal bones—are fixed in place by sutures and do not move relative to the skull.

The thing being tested is identifying the mandible as the lower jaw bone and recognizing why it can move while the rest of the skull cannot. The mandible is the bone that forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth. It moves because it forms a synovial hinge joint with the temporal bones called the temporomandibular joint, which allows opening, closing, and some side-to-side movement of the jaw. In contrast, the other options—the upper jaw bone (maxilla), the cheekbone (zygomatic), and the nasal bones—are fixed in place by sutures and do not move relative to the skull.

More practice questions