Latin foramen mandibulae TA A02.1.15.028 | Dorlands/Elsevier f_12/12373269 FMA 53172 | |
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The mandibular foramen is an opening on the internal surface of the ramus (posterior and perpendicularly oriented part of the mandible) for divisions of the mandibular nerve and blood vessels to pass through.
Contents
Contents
The mandibular nerve is one of three branches of the trigeminal nerve (CN V), and the only one having motor innervation.
One branch of it, the inferior alveolar nerve as well as the inferior alveolar artery enter the foramen traveling through the body in the mandibular canal 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.