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Bone: Mandible
Mandible. Outer surface. Side view
Mandible. Inner surface. Side view
Latin	mandibulus
Gray's	subject #44 172
Precursor	1st branchial arch1
MeSH	Mandible

The mandible (from Latin mandibula, "jawbone") or inferior maxillary bone forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place.

Components

The mandible consists of:

• a curved, horizontal portion, the body. (See body of mandible).
• two perpendicular portions, the rami, which unite with the ends of the body nearly at right angles. (See ramus mandibulae)
• Alveolar process, the tooth bearing area of the mandible (upper part of the body of the mandible)
• Condyle, superior (upper) and posterior projection from the ramus, which makes the temporomandibular joint with the temporal bone
• Coronoid process, superior and anterior projection from the ramus. This provides attachment to the temporalis muscle

Foramina (singular=foramen)

• Mandibular foramen, paired, in the inner (medial) aspect of the mandible, superior to the mandibular angle in the middle of the ramus.
• Mental foramen, paired, lateral to the mental protuberance on the body of mandible.

Nerves

Inferior alveolar nerve, branch of the mandibular division of Trigeminal (V) nerve, enters the mandibular foramen and runs forward in the mandibular canal, supplying sensation to the teeth. At the mental foramen the nerve divides into two terminal branches: incisive and mental nerves. The incisive nerve runs forward in the mandible and supplies the anterior teeth. The mental nerve exits the mental foramen and supplies sensation to the lower lip.

Articulations

The mandible articulates with the two temporal bones at the temporomandibular joints

Pathologies

One fifth of facial injuries involve mandibular fracture.² Mandibular fractures are often accompanied by a 'twin fracture' on the contralateral (opposite) side.

The mandible may be dislocated anteriorly (to the front) and inferiorly (downwards) but very rarely posteriorly (backwards).

See also

• Bone terminology
• Terms for anatomical location
• Changes produced in the mandible by age
• Ossification of the mandible
• Oral and maxillofacial surgery

Additional images

Front	Mandible	Gray181.png	Facial bones
Side view of the skull.	The skull from the front.	The veins of the neck, viewed from in front.

References

1. ^ hednk-023 — Embryology at UNC
2. ^ Levin L, Zadik Y, Peleg K, Bigman G, Givon A, Lin S (August 2008). "Incidence and severity of maxillofacial injuries during the Second Lebanon War among Israeli soldiers and civilians". J Oral Maxillofac Surg 66 (8): 1630-3. PMID 18634951, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WKF-4T0F864-K&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=e05fa24fcd1ba3f710eea659d919b6eb. Retrieved on 16 July 2008. 

External links

• SUNY Labs 34:st-0203 – "Oral Cavity: Bones"
• Diagram at uni-mainz.de

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.