sphenomandibular ligament

Function

• it is a primary passive support of the mandible serving as a swinging axis, allowing depression & elevation of the mandible around a transverse axis through the two lingulae, while at the same time, permitting protraction & retraction

Structure

• the fibrous band that passes from the spine of the sphenoid bone to the lingula of the mandible

More general terms

• ligament

Additional terms

• mandible (lower jaw bone, submaxilla)
• sphenoid bone