Jaw and neck connection
Connect the jaw and neck as linked 3D forms that support the head through different angles and poses.
What it is
The mandible, or jawbone, runs from the chin to the area below the ears and hinges into the skull. The neck connects under the back half of the skull and meets the jaw, throat, and collarbones.
Build the jaw as a solid form. From the side, place the jaw hinge near and slightly in front of the ear canal, then run the jaw down and forward to the chin. From the front, the jaw widens near the ears and narrows toward the chin.
The sternocleidomastoid muscles run from the pit of the neck and inner collarbones to behind the ears. When the head turns or tilts, these muscles stretch on one side and compress on the other.
Why it matters
This connection supports the head's structure through turns, tilts, and profile views. Weak control can place the neck too far forward or back, separate the chin from the neck, or make the throat and jawline lose their relationship.
You can check it when
- ✓Place the jaw hinge near the ear and build the jaw as a 3D form that continues to the chin.
- ✓Attach the neck under the back half of the skull. Show the neck as a supporting cylindrical form, with the sternocleidomastoid muscles connecting toward the collarbones and behind the ears.
- ✓Turn or tilt the head while keeping the jaw aligned with the ear and showing one side of the neck stretching as the other compresses.
- ✓Connect the jaw, throat, and collarbones as forms that occupy the same space.