Atlas of Human Anatomy by Netter

Posterior meningeal artery

Mandible

[Plate 17, Mandible]

page 7

page 8

Unpaired bone of lower jaw

Largest and strongest bone in face

Articulates with temporal bone at temporomandibular joint

Consists of

Body

Can be divided into lower base and upper alveolar part

Has a mental protuberance anteriorly and inferiorly where two sides come together

Mental spine: rough projection on inner surface of body in the midline

Mental foramen below second premolar transmits terminal branch of inferior alveolar nerve to supply skin and mucus

membrane of lower lip and chin

Mylohyoid line: a ridge extending upward and backward on internal surface of alveolar part of mandible for attachment

mylohyoid muscle

Submandibular fossa: long depression below mylohyoid line, which accommodates submandibular gland

Sublingual fossa: concavities on either side of mental spine for sublingual gland

Rami

Lateral vertical projections from body

Each meets body inferiorly at angle of the jaw

Two processes at superior end: coronoid process and condylar process

Coronoid process-attachment of temporalis muscle

Condylar process-part of temporomandibular joint

Mandibular notch-concavity between condylar and coronoid processes

Mandibular foramen

On inner surface of ramus

Entrance to mandibular canal, through which passes the inferior alveolar nerve

Lingula-thin projection of bone overlapping mandibular foramen

Mylohyoid groove-groove leading anteriorly and inferiorly from mandibular foramen indicating course of mylohyoid nerve and

vessels