Chap. XI. Of the lower Jaw-bone.
THe lower Jaw-bone in grown persons, consists of one Bone only, in Children till seven year old of two, which are joyned together by way of Sunchondrosis.
Its Figure is that of the Greek letter u or like a Bow.
Its Substance is exceeding hard and strong, that it may hold out in biting and chewing; within hollow, where Marrow is contained to nourish it and the teeth.
It hath two Holes on each side, which go quite through the Jaw-bone like a Pipe, so that a bristle put in at one hole will come out of the other.
The one is more inward, hindermore and greater, recei∣ving in a part of those Nerves which we reckon to be the fift pare, to the Roots of the teeth, with a little Vein and Artery.
The other is more outward, less round, by which a Branch of the foresaid Nerve received in, is sent out to the lower Lip.
It hath sundry Asperities and Cavities for the Risings and Insertions of Muscles.
Also on each side two Processes called Horns, carried up∣wards.
One goes out forwards broad and thin, whose point or sharp end is called Corone, into which the Tendon of the Temporal Muscle is implanted. And therefore Hippo∣crates counts the Luxation of the lower Jaw-bone dead∣ly.
The other hindermore, is carried backwards; repre∣senting a little bunch and is called condulodes, having a little Head coverd with a gristly crust, under which there is a longish Neck.
By this Process the Articulation is made with the Tem∣ple bones, where yet another Gristle is placed between the Cavity and the gristly head, to facilitate the motion. Also a common membranous Ligament doth cover this Articulation.