Anat Cell Biol.  2024 Mar;57(1):1-6. 10.5115/acb.23.220.

A comprehensive review of the mental spine

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
  • 2Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
  • 3Department of Neurology, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
  • 4Department of Structural & Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
  • 5Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University, St. George’s, Grenada, USA
  • 6Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
  • 7Department of Neurosurgery and Ochsner Neuroscience Institute, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, USA
  • 8University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
  • 9Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
  • 10Dental and Oral Medical Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
  • 11Division of Gross and Clinical Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan

Abstract

Clinical case reports and research regarding the mental spines and their associated structures create a detailed picture of the floor of the mouth for assessment during clinical treatment. This compilation of information covers the mental spines, the attached geniohyoid and genioglossus muscles, the lingual foramina, and the veins and arteries of the jaw and floor of the mouth. It is important to consider the variations in the mental spines for oral and maxillofacial treatment involving the mandible. Differences in anatomy of the mental spine, including their number, location, and size, can impact diagnosis and treatment approaches.

Keyword

Cadaver; Oral cavity; Mandible; Anatomy

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Various number of mental spines (arrows). Note that the median lingual foramina are shown (arrowheads).

  • Fig. 2 An elongated mental spine (arrow) and median lingual foramen (arrowhead).

  • Fig. 3 (A) Midsagittal and (B) axial cone-beam computed tomography of the mental spines (arrows).

  • Fig. 4 Masson’s trichrome staining of the para-midsagittal mandible. Note that the tendon of the geniohyoid muscle (between arrows) attaches to the mental spines.


Reference

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