Mandibular foramen 1245963 123909091 2007-04-18T21:01:34Z Em Mitchell 2326029 Redirected internal link away from disambiguation page {{Infobox Bone | Name = Mandibular foramen | Latin = foramen mandibulae | GraySubject = 44 | GrayPage = 173 | Image = Gray177.png | Caption = Mandible. Inner surface. Side view. (Mandibular foramen visible at left.) | Image2 = | Caption2 = | System = | MeshName = | MeshNumber = | DorlandsPre = f_12 | DorlandsSuf = 12373269 | }} The '''Mandibular foramen''' is an opening on the internal surface of the [[mandible|ramus]] (posterior and perpendicularly oriented part of the [[mandible]]) for divisions of the mandibular [[blood vessel|vessel]]s 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. The [[inferior alveolar nerve]] and [[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 ā€œVā€ 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== <gallery> Image:Gray310.png|Articulation of the mandible. Medial aspect. </gallery> ==See also== * [[Foramen]] ==External links== * {{SUNYAnatomyLabs|34|st|02|11}} * [http://www.unc.edu/~jbl/PA_anat/Man/mandibular-foramen-s.html Photo at unc.edu] * {{eMedicineDictionary|Mandibular+foramen}} * {{NormanAnatomy|cranialnerves}} ({{NormanAnatomyFig|V}}) {{Facial bones}} {{Foramina of skull}} {{musculoskeletal-stub}}