temporo-, tempor-
(Latin: sides of the head near the eyes; temple bones)
Pain in the temporomandibular joint can be caused by trauma; such as, a blow to the face, inflammatory or degenerative arthritis; or poor dental work or structural defects that push the mandible back toward the ears whenever the patient chews or swallows. Grinding or clenching the teeth is a frequent cause.
Sometimes muscles around the temporomandibular joint that are used for chewing can go into spasms, causing head and neck pain, as well as difficulty opening the mouth normally.
The kind of medical treatment depends on the cause and severity of the problem and can range from use of a mouth guard or medication to prevent night time tooth grinding to surgery.
The temporomandibular joint is one of the most frequently used joints in the entire body, moving whenever a person eats, drinks, or talks.
The mastoid process is a conical protuberance of the posterior portion of the temporal bone (protrusion of bone) that is situated behind the ear in humans and many other vertebrates and serves as a site of muscle attachment.
The os sphenoidale refers to an irregular bone occupying the central position in the base of the skull in front of the temporal bones.