Mandibular foramen

Bone: Mandibular foramen
Mandible. Inner surface. Side view. (Mandibular foramen visible at left.)
Latin	foramen mandibulae
Gray's	subject #44 173

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 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

• 

  Articulation of the mandible. Medial aspect.

External links

• SUNY Labs 34:st-0211
• Photo at unc.edu
• Mandibular+foramen at eMedicine Dictionary
• cranialnerves at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (V)