ABSTRACT
Background: Mandibular foramen is an irregular foramen located just above the centre of the medial surface ofthe ramus of the mandible. Mandibular foramen is leading to mandibular canal through which inferior nerveand vessels will transmit and supply the teeth of lower jaw.The Mandibular foramen is an important anatomical landmark for the inferior nerve blocks, mandibularosteotomies and implant treatment. The inferior nerve block is the commonest local anaesthetic techniquewhich is used for anaesthetizing lower jaw in various surgical and dental procedures on mandible andmandibular teeth such as removal of impaction, reduction of fractures and tooth extraction. Inferior alveolarnerve block failure is not uncommon and it occurs even with experienced hands due to variations in position ofmandibular foramen.A thorough knowledge of anatomy of mandibular foramen is very essential hence aim of this study was todetermine the exact position of mandibular foramen by studying dry adult human mandibles of telanganapopulation.Material and methods: The present study was conducted using 60 dry adult human mandibles obtained fromanatomy department of Shadan institute of medical sciences,Hyderabad and VRK womens medicalcollege,Hyderabad. The data was tabulated and statistically analysed.Result: The mean distance of mandibular foramen to anterior border of ramus (MF-AB)was16.67±2.73mm(R)and16.56±2.52mm(L),to posterior border of ramus(MF-PB) was 12.67±2.37mm(R) and 13.03±2.43mm(L),to mandibularnotch (MF-MN) 21.04±2.95mm(R) and 20.24±2.94mm(L),to angle of mandible was 23.005±3.92mm(R) and22.36±3.89mm,base of mandible or inferior border (MF-MB) was 24.38±3.86mm(R) and 24.42±4.44mm(L), tip ofcoronoid process (MF-CrT) 35.68±3.25mm(R) and 35.19±3.47mm (L).Conclusion: The present study gives a fair knowledge of the position of mandibular foramen and provides usefulinformation for successful local anaesthesia ( inferior nerve block),to the maxillofacial surgeons,radiologistsand oncologists performing operations on the mandible to prevent complications and misinterpretations