Temporomandibular_ligament
Temporomandibular ligament
Ligament connecting the zygomatic arch to the mandible
The temporomandibular ligament, also known as the external lateral ligament, is a ligament that connects the lower articular tubercle of the zygomatic arch to the lateral and posterior border of the neck of the mandible. It prevents posterior displacement of the mandible. It also prevents the condyloid process from being driven upward by a blow to the jaw, which would otherwise fracture the base of the skull.