An understanding of the structural and functional anatomy of the temporomandibular complex is crucial for developing clinical acumen. The anatomy of the region can appear complex, and considering the fact that pain can both radiate and refer to other regions, clinicians need to have an understanding of the anatomy and its topography to be able to interpret and interrogate clinical presentations of pain. Overlapping or mimicking clinical conditions may result in failure to diagnose temporomandibular disorders (TMD) or misdiagnosing a mimicking pathology as a TMD, both of which result in poor outcomes for patients. For this reason, structure and function relating to the preauricular region (also known as the temporomandibular region) cannot be isolated from each other. Understanding the function of this region and possible pathology requires a sound underpinning knowledge of structural anatomy and pathophysiology; this is explored in this section.