The TMJ:
"TMJ" stands for
Temporomandibular Joint, or the jaw joint. You have two TMJs, one in
front of each ear, connecting the lower jaw bone (the mandible) to the
skull. The joints allow movement up and down, side to side, and forward
and back—all the mobility necessary for biting, chewing and swallowing
food, for speaking and for making facial expressions.
TMJ Diseases/Disorders:
Temporomandibular
joint diseases and disorders, commonly called TMJ, are a collection of
poorly understood conditions characterized by pain in the jaw and
surrounding tissues and limitations in jaw movements. Injury and
conditions that routinely affect other joints in the body, such as
Arthritis, also affect the temporomandibular joint.