Mandibular Development and Changes Quiz

The point where the two halves of the mandible join together in infancy. This area ossifies (turns into bone) by the end of the first year.

The curve that separates the ramus and body of the mandible. It becomes deeper as the mandible grows.

The hole on the mandible where the mental nerve exits. It shifts its position as the mandible grows.

The canal that runs through the mandible and houses the inferior alveolar nerve and blood vessels. It's positioned differently at different ages.

The part of the mandible that extends upwards from the body. It contains the condyle and coronoid process.

The process of the permanent teeth erupting into the mouth. This is a gradual process that continues throughout childhood and adolescence.

During childhood, the mandibular canal, which contains the nerve and blood vessels, is positioned closer to the lower border of the mandible. As we age, it shifts closer to the upper border.

The mental foramen, where nerves and blood vessels exit the mandible, is located below the sockets of the lower 5th and 4th teeth in adults. However, it's positioned closer to the upper border in older individuals.

The condylar process, which forms the joint with the skull, shifts its position during life. In adulthood, it's located higher than the coronoid process, but in older age, it drops to a lower level.

The angle of the mandible, formed by the junction of the body and ramus, changes with age. It's wider in young individuals (170 degrees), decreases to about 140 degrees in adults, and becomes even wider again in old age (about 140 degrees).