Mandibular foramen

Mandibular foramen
Posterior view of a model of a human mandible, with the mandibular foramina highlighted in red.
Mandible. Inner surface. Side view. (Mandibular foramen visible at left.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	foramen mandibulae
TA	A02.1.15.028
FMA	53172
Anatomical terms of bone []

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.

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.

There are two distinct anatomies to its rim.

Articulation of the mandible. Medial aspect.

Mandibular foramen