Condylar process

The condylar process of the mandible, often referred to as the condyloid process, is thicker than its counterpart, the coronoid process. It is made up of two main parts: the condyle (or the head of mandible) and its supporting neck, each with their own unique characteristics and roles.

The upper part of the condylar process, called the mandibular condyle, is crucial for the jaw's movement in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This joint is divided into upper and lower sections by a fibrous articular disc. The mandibular condyle (or head of mandible) articulates with this disc to enable the jaw to open and close like a hinge in the joint's lower section. In the upper section, both the articular disc and the mandibular condyle slide forward or backward. Moving forward, the mandibular condyle and the disc fit under a part of the temporal bone called the articular tubercle, while moving back, they return to their original position in the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone.

Below the mandibular condyle is its neck, with a convex posterior surface and a front surface that has a groove called the pterygoid fovea. This groove is where the inferior part of the lateral pterygoid muscle, a muscle involved in jaw movement, attaches.

The TMJ's fibrous capsule completely surrounds the mandibular condyle and attaches around the neck of the condylar process, securing everything in place.