Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of the mandibular foramen?
What is the primary function of the mandibular foramen?
- Passage for the facial nerve
- Exit point for salivary ducts
- Attachment point for muscles of mastication
- Passage for the inferior dental nerve and artery (correct)
Where is the sublingual fossa located?
Where is the sublingual fossa located?
- At the base of the mandible
- Site of the sublingual salivary gland (correct)
- On the posterior side of the mandible
- Above the mylohyoid line
What structure is challenging when identifying posterior inferior alveolar nerve blocks?
What structure is challenging when identifying posterior inferior alveolar nerve blocks?
- Oblique line
- Mandibular foramen
- Lingula (correct)
- Sublingual fossa
What feature of the mandible is described as being an oblique opening?
What feature of the mandible is described as being an oblique opening?
What major anatomical feature is found at the midpoint of the ramus of the mandible?
What major anatomical feature is found at the midpoint of the ramus of the mandible?
What structure does the coronoid process primarily serve as the insertion point for?
What structure does the coronoid process primarily serve as the insertion point for?
Which feature of the mandible articulates with the temporal bone?
Which feature of the mandible articulates with the temporal bone?
What describes the neck of the condyle?
What describes the neck of the condyle?
What is the function of the alveolar process of the mandible?
What is the function of the alveolar process of the mandible?
Where is the mental foramen located?
Where is the mental foramen located?
What is the anatomical feature that originates at the mental tubercle?
What is the anatomical feature that originates at the mental tubercle?
How many teeth does the alveolar process of the mandible house on each side?
How many teeth does the alveolar process of the mandible house on each side?
What are the two plates of bone that constitute the alveolar process of the mandible?
What are the two plates of bone that constitute the alveolar process of the mandible?
What shape does the mandible have?
What shape does the mandible have?
Which part of the mandible serves as the attachment point for muscles of mastication?
Which part of the mandible serves as the attachment point for muscles of mastication?
Which joint is involved in the articulation of the mandible with the skull?
Which joint is involved in the articulation of the mandible with the skull?
Which of the following is NOT a part of the mandible?
Which of the following is NOT a part of the mandible?
What is the primary function of the mandible in the human skull?
What is the primary function of the mandible in the human skull?
What characteristic makes the mandible unique among the bones of the skull?
What characteristic makes the mandible unique among the bones of the skull?
Which of the following best describes the ramus of the mandible?
Which of the following best describes the ramus of the mandible?
What is the role of the alveolar process in the mandible?
What is the role of the alveolar process in the mandible?
What anatomical feature of the mandible acts as the origin for the genioglossus muscle?
What anatomical feature of the mandible acts as the origin for the genioglossus muscle?
Which structure of the mandible is a triangular elevation of bone located at the chin?
Which structure of the mandible is a triangular elevation of bone located at the chin?
What function does the mylohyoid ridge serve in the mandible?
What function does the mylohyoid ridge serve in the mandible?
Which of the following statements about the digastric fossae is correct?
Which of the following statements about the digastric fossae is correct?
The mental tubercles are described as which of the following?
The mental tubercles are described as which of the following?
Which muscle originates from the upper aspect of the mental spine?
Which muscle originates from the upper aspect of the mental spine?
Where is the submandibular fossa located?
Where is the submandibular fossa located?
The lower aspect of the mental spine serves as the origin for which muscle?
The lower aspect of the mental spine serves as the origin for which muscle?
Flashcards are hidden until you start studying
Study Notes
The Mandible
- The mandible forms the lower jaw.
- The mandible is a single bone, the strongest and largest bone of the face.
- The mandible is a horseshoe-shaped bone composed of a body and two rami (singular: ramus).
- It is the only movable bone of the skull.
- It articulates with the temporal bone through the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
- The mandible serves as an attachment point for various muscles, including the muscles of mastication.
Key Parts of the Mandible
- Body: The horizontal portion of the mandible.
- Ramus: The vertical portion of the mandible.
- Coronoid Process: A sharp, beak-like process anterior to the condyle.
- Condyle: A roller-shaped process that articulates with the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone.
- Alveolar Process: Houses the lower teeth.
External Features
- External Oblique Ridge: A ridge of bone that originates at the mental tubercle and sweeps upwards and backwards to become the sharp anterior border of the vertical ramus.
- Mental Foramen: Located at the midpoint of the inferior border and the alveolar crest in the region of the second premolar. It transmits the mental nerve and artery.
- Mental Protuberance (Chin): A triangular elevation of bone on the anterior surface of the mandible.
- Mental Tubercles: Small elevations either side of the mental protuberance.
Internal Features
- Digastric Fossae: Small depressions on either side of the midline that reflect the bony origins of the anterior belly of the digastric muscle.
- Mental Spine (Genial Tubercles): Up to four separate spines, or a single fused spine.
- The upper aspect of the spine is the origin of the genioglossus muscle
- The lower aspect is the origin of the geniohyoid muscle.
- Mylohyoid Ridge: The origin of attachment for the mylohyoid muscle, which forms the floor of the anterior part of the mouth.
- Submandibular Fossa: Site of the submandibular salivary gland.
- Sublingual Fossa: Site of the sublingual salivary gland.
- Mandibular (Inferior Dental) Foramen: An oblique opening at the midpoint of the ramus of the mandible that transmits the inferior alveolar nerve and artery.
Movement of the Mandible
- The mandible is responsible for actions such as:
- Elevation (closing jaw)
- Depression (opening jaw)
- Protrusion (pushing jaw forward)
- Retrusion (pulling jaw backward)
- Lateral excursion (side-to-side movements)
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
