Skull/SinusesFull access
TMJs
Each side open and closed; Schuller angles 25 to 30° caudad, modified Law rotates 15° and angles 15°; never force the mouth open.
Why open and closed
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is where the condyle of the mandible meets the temporal bone. When the mouth opens, the condyle glides forward onto the articular eminence. TMJ images are taken with the mouth closed and then open, on both sides, to show that motion. A patient with suspected fracture or dislocation should not be asked to open the mouth. MRI is now the usual study for the TMJ disc, but plain views are still taken; the 2027 ARRT list includes the modified Law and the modified Towne (AP axial).