Description

TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint; Articulación Temporomandibular) refers to the joint that connects the jaw (mandible) to the skull. It enables movements such as opening and closing the mouth, chewing, and speaking. The term may refer to the joint itself or, in some contexts, to disorders affecting this joint.

Interpreter Notes

Interpreters may hear “TMJ” in English or “ATM (articulación temporomandibular)” in Spanish. Spanish speakers use the abbreviation ATM, not TMJ. Interpreters should render the term exactly as stated by the speaker without transferring abbreviations across languages.

Example Sentences

EN: The patient has pain in the TMJ when chewing.

ES: El paciente tiene dolor en la articulación temporomandibular al masticar.

Common Interpreter Mistakes

Using the abbreviation TMJ in Spanish instead of ATM; translating TMJ as a muscle rather than a joint; assuming the term always refers to a disorder rather than the anatomical joint