Which feature is commonly referred to as the chin bone?

The term "chin bone" is commonly associated with the mandible, which is the lower jawbone in the human skull. The mandible is the only movable bone of the skull and plays a crucial role in mastication (chewing) and articulation of speech. The mental protuberance refers specifically to the prominence at the front of the mandible, which is what gives rise to the shape of the chin. While it's true that the chin is formed by the mental protuberance, the term "chin bone" more accurately describes the overall structure of the mandible as a whole.

The maxilla is the upper jawbone and does not form the chin. The maxillary process refers to new tissue that will eventually develop into maxilla or mandible, and it does not pertain to the chin specifically. Therefore, when considering the full context of anatomical terminology, the chin bone most appropriately points to the mandible.