Mental spine
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A mental spine is a small projection of bone on the posterior aspect of the mandible (jaw bone) in the midline. There are usually 4 mental spines: 2 superior and 2 inferior. Collectively they are also known as the genial tubercle[1], genial apophysis and the Latin name spinae mentalis. The inferior mental spines are the points of origin of the geniohyoid muscle[2], one of the suprahyoid muscles and the superior mental spines are the origin of the genioglossus muscle, one of the muscles of the tongue.
[edit] References
- ^ "Genial tubercle." The American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002. http://www.answers.com/topic/mental-spine Accessed: 22 Oct. 2007.
- ^ "Genial tubercle." Mosby's Dental Dictionary. Elsevier, Inc., 2004. http://www.answers.com/topic/mental-spine Accessed: 22 Oct. 2007.
