Mandibular foramen

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Mandibular foramen
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The mandibular foramen sits in the ramus of the mandible
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Mandible viewed from the inner side of the mandible, showing the mandibular foramen at left.
Details
Part of Mandible
System Skeletal
Identifiers
Latin foramen mandibulae
TA98 A02.1.15.028
TA2 865
FMA 53172
Anatomical terms of bone

The mandibular foramen is an opening on the internal surface of the ramus of the mandible. It allows for divisions of the mandibular nerve and blood vessels to pass through.

Contents

Structure

The mandibular foramen is an opening on the internal surface of the ramus of the mandible. [1] [2] It allows for divisions of the mandibular nerve and blood vessels to pass through. [2]

Variation

There are two distinct anatomies to its rim.

Rarely, a bifid inferior alveolar nerve may be present, in which case a second mandibular foramen, more inferiorly placed, exists and can be detected by noting a doubled mandibular canal on a radiograph. [3]

Function

The mandibular nerve is one of three branches of the trigeminal nerve, and the only one having 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. [1]

Clinical significance

Local anaesthetic can be injected around the mandibular foramen to anaesthetise the mandibular nerve, and thereby the mandible the lower teeth on that side, and some skin on the lower face. [1]

Other animals

The mandibular foramen can be found in other mammals, such as horses. [2]

Additional images

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temporomandibular joint</span> Joints connecting the jawbone to the skull

In anatomy, the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the two joints connecting the jawbone to the skull. It is a bilateral synovial articulation between the temporal bone of the skull above and the mandible below; it is from these bones that its name is derived. The joints are unique in their bilateral function, being connected via the mandible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandibular nerve</span> Branch of the trigeminal nerve responsible for the lower face and jaw

In neuroanatomy, the mandibular nerve (V3) is the largest of the three divisions of the trigeminal nerve, the fifth cranial nerve (CN V). Unlike the other divisions of the trigeminal nerve (ophthalmic nerve, maxillary nerve) which contain only afferent fibers, the mandibular nerve contains both afferent and efferent fibers. These nerve fibers innervate structures of the lower jaw and face, such as the tongue, lower lip, and chin. The mandibular nerve also innervates the muscles of mastication.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inferior alveolar nerve</span> Branch of the mandibular nerve

The inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) (also the inferior dental nerve) is a sensory branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3) (which is itself the third branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)). The nerve provides sensory innervation to the lower/mandibular teeth and their corresponding gingiva as well as a small area of the face (via its mental nerve).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masseter muscle</span> One of the masticatory muscles in mammals

In anatomy, the masseter is one of the muscles of mastication. Found only in mammals, it is particularly powerful in herbivores to facilitate chewing of plant matter. The most obvious muscle of mastication is the masseter muscle, since it is the most superficial and one of the strongest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medial pterygoid muscle</span> Muscle involved in chewing

The medial pterygoid muscle is a thick, quadrilateral muscle of the face. It is supplied by the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve (V). It is important in mastication (chewing).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buccal nerve</span> Nerve in the human face

The buccal nerve is a sensory nerve of the face arising from the mandibular nerve. It conveys sensory information from the skin of the cheek, and parts of the oral mucosa, periodontium, and gingiva.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mental foramen</span> Opening on the anterior aspect of the mandible through which the mental nerve and vessels exit

The mental foramen is one of two foramina (openings) located on the anterior surface of the mandible. It is part of the mandibular canal. It transmits the terminal branches of the inferior alveolar nerve and the mental vessels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lingual nerve</span> Human nerve relaying sense to the tongue

The lingual nerve carries sensory innervation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. It contains fibres from both the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (CN V3) and from the facial nerve (CN VII). The fibres from the trigeminal nerve are for touch, pain and temperature (general sensation), and the ones from the facial nerve are for taste (special sensation).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inferior alveolar artery</span> Artery found in the head

The inferior alveolar artery is an artery of the head. It is a branch of the maxillary artery. It descends through the infratemporal fossa as part of a neurovascular bundle with the inferior alveolar nerve and vein to the mandibular foramen where it enters and passes anteriorly inside the mandible, supplying the body of mandible and the dental pulp of the lower molar and premolar teeth. Its terminal incisor branch supplies the rest of the lower teeth. Its mental branch exits the mandibula anteriorly through the mental foramen to supply adjacent lip and skin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mental nerve</span> Sensory nerve of the face

The mental nerve is a sensory nerve of the face. It is a branch of the posterior trunk of the inferior alveolar nerve, itself a branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3), itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V). It provides sensation to the front of the chin and the lower lip, as well as the gums of the anterior mandibular (lower) teeth. It can be blocked with local anaesthesia for procedures on the chin, lower lip, and mucous membrane of the inner cheek. Problems with the nerve cause chin numbness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandibular canal</span>

In human anatomy, the mandibular canal is a canal within the mandible that contains the inferior alveolar nerve, inferior alveolar artery, and inferior alveolar vein. It runs obliquely downward and forward in the ramus, and then horizontally forward in the body, where it is placed under the alveoli and communicates with them by small openings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mylohyoid nerve</span> Nerve of the head

The mylohyoid nerve is a mixed nerve of the head. It is a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve. It provides motor innervation the mylohyoid muscle, and the anterior belly of the digastric muscle. It provides sensory innervation to part of the submental area, and sometimes also the mandibular (lower) molar teeth, requiring local anaesthesia for some oral procedures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxillary artery</span> Artery supplying face structures in humans

The maxillary artery supplies deep structures of the face. It branches from the external carotid artery just deep to the neck of the mandible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Incisive foramen</span> Opening of the incisive canals on the hard palate immediately behind the incisor teeth

In the human mouth, the incisive foramen is the opening of the incisive canals on the hard palate immediately behind the incisor teeth. It gives passage to blood vessels and nerves. The incisive foramen is situated within the incisive fossa of the maxilla.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infratemporal fossa</span> Cavity that is part of the skull

The infratemporal fossa is an irregularly shaped cavity that is a part of the skull. It is situated below and medial to the zygomatic arch. It is not fully enclosed by bone in all directions. It contains superficial muscles, including the lower part of the temporalis muscle, the lateral pterygoid muscle, and the medial pterygoid muscle. It also contains important blood vessels such as the middle meningeal artery, the pterygoid plexus, and the retromandibular vein, and nerves such as the mandibular nerve (CN V3) and its branches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infraorbital nerve</span> Branch of the maxillary nerve supplying the face

The infraorbital nerve is a branch of the maxillary nerve. It arises in the pterygopalatine fossa. It passes through the inferior orbital fissure to enter the orbit. It travels through the orbit, then enters and traverses the infraorbital canal, exiting the canal at the infraorbital foramen to reach the face. It provides sensory innervation to the skin and mucous membranes around the middle of the face.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandibular notch</span> Groove in the ramus of the mandible

The mandibular notch, also known as the sigmoid notch, is a groove in the ramus of the mandible. It is the gap between the coronoid process anteriorly and the condyloid process posteriorly.

Inferior alveolar nerve block is a nerve block technique which induces anesthesia (numbness) in the areas of the mouth and face innervated by one of the inferior alveolar nerves which are paired on the left and right side. These areas are the skin and mucous membranes of the lower lip, the skin of the chin, the lower teeth and the labial gingiva of the anterior teeth, all unilaterally to the midline of the side on which the block is administered. However, depending on technique, the long buccal nerve may not be anesthetized by an IANB and therefore an area of buccal gingiva adjacent to the lower posterior teeth will retain normal sensation unless that nerve is anesthetized separately, via a (long) buccal nerve block. The inferior alveolar nerve is a branch of the mandibular nerve, the third division of the trigeminal nerve. This procedure attempts to anaesthetise the inferior alveolar nerve prior to it entering the mandibular foramen on the medial surface of the mandibular ramus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandibular incisive canal</span>

The mandibular incisive canal is a bilaterally paired bony canal within the anterior portion of the mandible that extends from the mental foramen (usually) to near the ipsilateral lateral incisor teeth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandible</span> Lower jaw bone

In jawed vertebrates, the mandible, lower jaw, or jawbone is a bone that makes up the lower – and typically more mobile – component of the mouth.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Campoy, Luis; Read, Matt (2015). "12 - Local and Regional Anesthetic Techniques". Handbook of Veterinary Pain Management (3rd ed.). Mosby. pp. 224–265. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-08935-7.00012-0. ISBN   9780323089357.
  2. 1 2 3 Doherty, Tom; Schumacher, James (2011). "15 - Dental restraint and anesthesia". Equine Dentistry (3rd ed.). Saunders. pp. 241–244. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-2980-6.00015-5. ISBN   978-0-7020-2980-6.
  3. ↑ Fehrenbach, Margaret; Herring, Susan (2011). Illustrated Anatomy of the Head and Neck (4th ed.). Saunders. p. 59. ISBN   9781455706303.
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