Temporomandibular (TM) joint

The temporomandibular (TM) joints join the skull and lower jawbone. These gliding "ball and socket" joints are located just in front of each ear. They move when a person opens and closes his or her mouth.

The TM joints are stabilized by muscles and ligaments that attach directly to the jawbone. They are separated by a disc made of cartilage, called the articular disc. This keeps the two bones from rubbing together.