What is micrognathia?

What is micrognathia?

• A. Mandibular hypoplasia, small jaw
• B. Large jaw
• C. Excessive chin growth
• D. Tongue enlargement

Answer: (A)

Micrognathia is a small mandible—the mandible is underdeveloped, described as mandibular hypoplasia. This results in a lower jaw that is smaller than normal. In newborns, a small jaw can contribute to airway problems because the tongue may sit further back (glossoptosis), leading to breathing and feeding difficulties. The other options describe different conditions: a large jaw (prognathism, macrosomia), excessive chin growth, or tongue enlargement (macroglossia), none of which define micrognathia.

Micrognathia is a small mandible—the mandible is underdeveloped, described as mandibular hypoplasia. This results in a lower jaw that is smaller than normal. In newborns, a small jaw can contribute to airway problems because the tongue may sit further back (glossoptosis), leading to breathing and feeding difficulties. The other options describe different conditions: a large jaw (prognathism, macrosomia), excessive chin growth, or tongue enlargement (macroglossia), none of which define micrognathia.