Mandibular foramen
| Mandibular foramen | |
|---|---|
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| Posterior view of a model of a human mandible, with the mandibular foramina highlighted in red. | |
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| Mandible. Inner surface. Side view. (Mandibular foramen visible at left.) | |
| Latin | foramen mandibulae |
| Gray's | p.173 |
The Mandibular foramen is an opening on the internal surface of the ramus (posterior and perpendicularly oriented part of the mandible) for divisions of the mandibular vessels and nerve to pass.
Contents
The mandibular nerve is one of three branches of the trigeminal nerve (CN V) and the only branch with motor innervation.
One branch of it, the inferior alveolar nerve as well as the inferior alveolar artery enter the foramen traveling through the body in the mandibular canal and exit at the mental foramen on the anterior mandible at which point the nerve is known as the mental nerve.
These nerves provide sensory innervation to the lower teeth, as well as the lower lip and some skin on the lower face.
Structures of rim
There are two distinct anatomies to its rim.
- In the common form the rim is “V” shaped, with a groove separating the anterior and posterior parts.
- In the horizontal-oval form there is no groove, and the rim is horizontally oriented and oval in shape, the anterior and posterior parts connected.
Additional images
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Articulation of the mandible. Medial aspect.
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Mandibular foramen
External links
- 34:st-0211 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Photo at unc.edu
- Mandibular+foramen at eMedicine Dictionary
- cranialnerves at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (V)
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