---
title: "Mandibular Notch | Anatomy and Physiology I"
description: "Mandibular notch: the curved depression between the coronoid and condylar processes of the mandible, shaping jaw movement in Anatomy and Physiology I."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/anatomy-physiology/key-terms/mandibular-notch"
type: "key-term"
subject: "Anatomy and Physiology I"
unit: "Unit 7"
---

# Mandibular Notch | Anatomy and Physiology I

## Definition

The mandibular notch is the curved dip between the coronoid process and condylar process on the upper border of the mandible. In Anatomy and Physiology I, you identify it as a landmark on the lower jaw and a point of reference for TMJ anatomy.

## What It Is

The mandibular notch is the curved indentation on the upper border of the mandible, sitting between the coronoid process and the condylar process. If you look at the jaw from the side, it is the dip between the front and back upward projections of the ramus. It is not a separate bone or joint, just a bony landmark on the lower jaw.

In Anatomy and Physiology I, this term usually shows up when you are learning the skull and the mandible as a structural unit. The notch helps you orient yourself on the mandible because it sits between two very different processes. The coronoid process is the forward projection that gives attachment to the temporalis muscle, while the condylar process heads upward to help form the temporomandibular joint.

The notch itself does not perform a moving action, but it sits in a region shaped by jaw function. The mandible has to open, close, glide, and bear force when you chew, talk, or yawn. The space between those processes reflects that anatomy, since the front part of the ramus is built for muscle attachment and the back part is built for articulation with the skull.

A common mistake is to treat the mandibular notch like a joint surface or a muscle attachment site. It is neither. It is a landmark that helps you describe the mandible accurately and identify the nearby structures that do the real work of chewing and jaw movement.

If you are studying a skull diagram or bone model, the notch is usually easiest to find by first locating the coronoid process and condylar process, then tracing the dip between them. That visual skill matters because A&P often asks you to identify structures by position, not just by memorized names.

## Why It Matters

The mandibular notch matters because it helps you read the mandible correctly in skull diagrams, lab practicals, and bone models. In Anatomy and Physiology I, a lot of skull content is about knowing where one feature ends and the next begins, and this notch is a clean landmark for separating the coronoid process from the condylar process.

It also connects to how the jaw is built for function. The coronoid process is tied to muscle attachment, the condylar process is tied to the TMJ, and the notch sits between them as part of the jaw’s shape. When you understand that layout, the mandible stops being a list of parts and starts making structural sense.

This term also helps with comparing bones and naming features precisely. If you can point to the notch on a model, you can more easily explain how the mandible supports chewing, speech, and joint movement without mixing up the different processes. That kind of precise identification shows up a lot in practical exams and image-based questions.

## Connections

### Condylar Process

The condylar process is the posterior projection of the mandible that articulates with the temporal bone at the TMJ. The mandibular notch sits just in front of it, so the two features are often identified together on a skull model. If you can find the condylar process first, the notch becomes much easier to locate.

### [Coronoid Process](/anatomy-physiology/key-terms/coronoid-process)

The coronoid process is the anterior projection of the mandible and serves as an attachment site for the temporalis muscle. The mandibular notch lies between the coronoid and condylar processes, so it is a good visual divider when you are labeling the ramus. Knowing both landmarks helps you orient the jaw quickly.

### [Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)](/anatomy-physiology/key-terms/temporomandibular-joint-tmj)

The TMJ is the joint between the condylar process of the mandible and the temporal bone. The mandibular notch is not part of the joint itself, but it sits right next to the structures that form it. That makes the notch useful when you are tracing the jaw from the condyle forward toward the coronoid process.

### [angle of the mandible](/anatomy-physiology/key-terms/angle-of-the-mandible)

The angle of the mandible is the corner where the body and ramus of the lower jaw meet. The mandibular notch is much higher up, on the upper border of the ramus, so these two landmarks help you separate lower jaw regions. Students often confuse them when looking at the mandible from the side.

## On the AP Exam

A lab practical or bone-identification question may show you a skull and ask you to name the dip between the coronoid process and condylar process. Your job is to point to the mandibular notch and then use it to orient the rest of the mandible. In short-answer work, you might explain that it is a bony landmark on the upper border of the mandible, not a joint or muscle attachment. If your instructor uses diagrams, expect it to appear alongside TMJ labeling, since the notch helps you tell the front and back jaw projections apart.

## mandibular notch vs Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)

These are easy to mix up because they are close on the jaw, but they are not the same thing. The TMJ is an actual joint where the mandible meets the temporal bone, while the mandibular notch is just a curved depression in the mandible between two processes. One moves, the other is a landmark.

## Key Takeaways

- The mandibular notch is the curved depression on the upper border of the mandible between the coronoid and condylar processes.
- It is a landmark, not a joint and not a muscle attachment site.
- You can use it to orient the ramus of the mandible on a skull model or diagram.
- It sits next to structures that do the work of chewing and jaw movement, especially the coronoid process and TMJ.
- If you know where the notch is, it becomes much easier to label the upper jaw border accurately.

## FAQs

### What is the mandibular notch in Anatomy and Physiology I?

It is the curved indentation on the upper border of the mandible between the coronoid process and condylar process. In A&P I, it is mainly a skull landmark that helps you identify the lower jaw correctly on a model or diagram.

### Is the mandibular notch part of the TMJ?

No. The TMJ is the joint between the condylar process and the temporal bone, while the mandibular notch is the dip on the mandible between the coronoid and condylar processes. They are close, but they are different structures.

### How do I find the mandibular notch on a skull?

First find the condylar process at the back of the ramus and the coronoid process at the front. The mandibular notch is the curved space between them on the upper edge of the jaw. On diagrams, it often looks like a shallow U-shaped dip.

### Why does the mandible have a notch there?

The shape reflects how the jaw is built for both muscle attachment and movement. The coronoid process is for muscle attachment, the condylar process helps form the TMJ, and the notch sits between them as part of the bone’s overall shape.

## Related Study Guides

- [7.2 The Skull ](/anatomy-physiology/unit-7/2-skull/study-guide/UlZ8y25gzC1E8srV)

## About This Document

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