Mandible bone anatomy

• 1 Anatomical Structure • 1.1 Body • 1.2 Rami • 1.3 Foramina • 2 Muscular Attachments • 3 Articulations • 4 Clinical Relevance: Fractures of the Mandible The mandible, located inferiorly in the facial skeleton, is the largest and strongest bone of the face. It forms the lower jaw and acts as a receptacle for the lower teeth. It also articulates on either side with the temporal bone, forming the temporomandibular joint. In this article, we will look at the anatomy and clinical importance of the mandible. Anatomical Structure The mandible consists of a horizontal body (anteriorly) and two vertical rami (posteriorly). The body and the rami meet on each side at the angle of the mandible. Body The body of the mandible is curved, and shaped much like a horseshoe. It has two borders: • Alveolar border (superior) – contains 16 sockets to hold the lower teeth. • Base (inferior) – site of attachment for the digastric muscle medially The body is marked in the midline by the mandibular symphysis. This is a small ridge of bone that represents the fusion of the two halves during development. The symphysis encloses a triangular eminence – the mental protuberance, which forms the shape of the chin. Lateral to the mental protuberance is the mental foramen (below the second premolar tooth on either side). It acts as a passageway for neurovascular structures. Rami There are two mandibular rami, which project perpendicularly upwards from the angle of the mandible. Each ramus contains the fol...

The mandible is the single midline bone of the lower jaw. It consists of a curved, horizontal portion, the body, and two perpendicular portions, the rami, which unite with the ends of the body nearly at right angles (angle of the jaw). It articulates with both temporal bones at the mandibular fossa at the Gross anatomy Osteology Body The body of the mandible is curved, somewhat like a horseshoe, with two surfaces and two borders. The mandibular symphysis is located in the midline, a point of fusion. The parasymphysis extends from the midline to past the canine. • external surface • midline ridge indicating the symphysis • st molar), midway between the superior and inferior borders; allows for the passage of the • internal surface • concave from side-to-side • origin of • fossae for the • superior (or alveolar) border • wider behind than in front • hollowed for reception of teeth (normally 16) • attachment of • inferior border • rounded, longer than the superior border and thicker in front than behind • groove for the facial artery may be present at the point it joins the ramus of the mandible Ramus The ramus is quadrilateral in shape, and has two surfaces, four borders, and two processes and one canal: • external (or lateral) surface • flat; gives attachment to the • inner (or medial) surface • • • lower border • thick, straight and continuous with the inferior border of the body of the mandible • posterior border • thick, smooth, rounded and covered by the • angle of the ...

Typical variations can be something like the lingual nerve being closer to or farther away from the lower wisdom teeth, or the path of one or more branches being different in relation to other structures. These kinds of abnormalities can lead to nerve damage during surgery or dental procedures because the doctor doesn't expect the nerve to be where it is. • Ophthalmic nerve (sensory): Eye, the skin of the upper face, and scalp • Maxillary nerve (sensory): Upper jaw, the roof of your mouth, nostrils, sinuses, and middle of your face • Mandibular nerve (sensory and motor): Lower jaw and mouth, some areas of the scalp, and motor function to the lower jaw and mouth • Chewing muscles (medial pterygoid, deep temporal, lateral pterygoid, masseter) • Mylohyoid, which forms the floor of your mouth • Digastric, which is a small muscle under your jaw • Tensor veli palatini, which lifts the soft palate at the back of your mouth • Tensor tympani, inside the ear, which dampens loud noises Associated Conditions Pain or other problems related to the mandibular nerve can be hard to diagnose due to the complexity of the anatomy in the head and neck. A lot of different structures are close to each other and even overlapping, making it hard for doctors to figure out exactly what's causing symptoms. A mandibular nerve block, which deadens feeling in a nerve with anesthetic, is frequently used for jaw surgery or dental work. It causes numbness in the auriculotemporal, inferior alveolar, buccal,...

The human skull has many components. In fact, in an average adult human, the skull combines 22 bones. One of these bones is the mandible, more commonly known as the lower jaw. What Is the Mandible? Recognized as one of the most prominent bones in the human skull, the mandible is responsible for holding the bottom row of teeth in place and providing the lower face and chin with their shape. The mandible’s primary function is to move the mouth, allowing it to open and close when needed, such as when a person needs to chew food. The mandible is the only bone in the skull that can move and is also the strongest bone in the human face. Where Is the Mandible Located? The mandible is located in the lower jaw, directly below the maxilla (upper jaw). The mandible is formed during the developmental stages of pregnancy, when a structure known as the pharyngeal arch develops the coronoid and the condyloid. These eventually join to create the mandible. Mandible Parts The mandible consists of three parts. The first part is the body, a curved and horizontal structure. The second and third parts are the rami, which are vertical structures that join the ends of the body at the angle of the jaw. Body The mandible portion known as the body is a horseshoe-like curved fixture consisting of two borders. The borders are called the alveolar border and the base. The alveolar border is on top and contains 16 sockets holding lower teeth. The base is the lower border and is the site where the digastr...