Morphometric and morphological study of mandibular foramen and lingula in dry human mandibles

Abstract

Introduction/Objective The mandibular foramen (MF) and lingula (ML) are key landmarks on the medial surface of the mandibular ramus. Their position relative to the ramus borders, dentition, and lingula morphology is clinically important for anesthesia and surgical procedures. The study aimed to assess the morphological and morphometric characteristics of MF and ML in relation to ramus borders, alveolar presence, and lingula shape in a Serbian population sample.

Methods The material comprised 50 human dry hemimandibles from the bone collection of the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš. Distances from MF and ML to the superior, anterior, and posterior ramus borders, temporal crest, and gonion were measured, along with MF diameter and ML height. Hemimandibles were classified by the number of alveoli present (0, 1–4, or 5–8). Lingulae were classified by shape. Measurements were obtained using a digital vernier caliper, and mean values with standard deviations were analyzed by ANOVA. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05.

Results The MF–posterior border and ML–posterior border distances (14.49 and 16.03, respectively) were significantly larger in partially edentulous hemimandibles, compared with the dentulous subjects (11.97 and 13.95 mm, respectively). The triangular lingula was most prevalent (48%), followed by truncated (32%), nodular (16%), and assimilated (4%) forms. The ML–gonion distance was significantly greater in mandibles with a truncated vs. triangular lingula (33.37 vs. 27.99 mm).

Conclusion This study suggests considering the posterior ramus distance in partially edentulous patients and the shape of the ML to optimize MF localization for anesthesia and surgery.

Keywords: anatomic variation; mandible; morphometry; anesthesia; mandibular osteotomy