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| Mandibular foramen | |
|---|---|
 Themandibular foramen sits in the ramus of themandible | |
 Mandible viewed from the inner side of the mandible, showing the mandibular foramen at left. | |
| Details | |
| Part of | Mandible |
| System | Skeletal |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | foramen mandibulae |
| TA98 | A02.1.15.028 |
| TA2 | 865 |
| FMA | 53172 |
| Anatomical terms of bone | |
Themandibular foramen is an opening on the internal surface of theramus of the mandible. It allows for divisions of themandibular nerve andblood vessels to pass through.
The mandibular foramen is an opening on the internal surface of the ramus of themandible.[1][2] It allows for divisions of themandibular nerve andblood vessels to pass through.[2]
There are two distinct anatomies to its rim.
Rarely, a bifid inferior alveolar nerve may be present, in which case a second mandibular foramen, more inferiorly placed, exists and can be detected by noting a doubled mandibular canal on aradiograph.[3]
Themandibular nerve is one of three branches of thetrigeminal nerve, and the only one having motor innervation. One branch of it, theinferior alveolar nerve, as well as theinferior alveolar artery, enter the foramen traveling through the body in themandibular canal and exit at themental foramen on the anterior mandible at which point the nerve is known as themental nerve. These nerves provide sensory innervation to the lowerteeth, as well as the lower lip and someskin on the lowerface.[1]
Local anaesthetic can be injected around the mandibular foramen to anaesthetise themandibular nerve, and thereby the mandible the lowerteeth on that side, and someskin on the lower face.[1]
The mandibular foramen can be found in othermammals, such ashorses.[2]
