Mental tubercle, also known as the mental protuberance or mentum, is a small protrusion located on the mandible (lower jaw bone) at the midline of the chin. It is a bony landmark that serves as a reference point in clinical and surgical procedures involving the mandible and surrounding structures.
Structure
The mental tubercle is a small, rounded protuberance located on the anterior (front) aspect of the mandible, at the midline of the chin. It is formed by the fusion of the two mandibular symphysis, which are the bony plates that form the front of the mandible. The mental tubercle is composed of dense, compact bone, which is the strongest and most durable type of bone tissue.
It is located at the intersection of the mandibular body and the mandibular ramus, which is the bony plate that forms the side of the mandible. It is situated just below the lower lip and above the gingiva (gums). The mental tubercle is surrounded by the mental foramen, which is a small opening in the mandible that allows blood vessels and nerves to pass through.
Location
The mental tubercle is located on the anterior aspect of the mandible, at the midline of the chin. It is situated just below the lower lip and above the gingiva (gums). The mental tubercle is surrounded by the mental foramen, which is a small opening in the mandible that allows blood vessels and nerves to pass through.
It is an important bony landmark in the mandible, as it is used to locate other structures in the mandible and surrounding region. For example, the mental nerve, which is a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve, passes through the mental foramen and innervates the skin of the lower lip and chin. The mental artery, which is a branch of the inferior alveolar artery, also passes through the mental foramen and supplies blood to the lower lip and chin.
Function
The primary function of the mental tubercle is to serve as a reference point in clinical and surgical procedures involving the mandible and surrounding structures. It is a bony landmark that is used to locate other structures in the mandible and surrounding region, such as the mental nerve and the mental artery.
The mental tubercle is also thought to play a role in the movement of the mandible during chewing and speaking. It is located at the intersection of the mandibular body and the mandibular ramus, which allows for the attachment of various muscles that are responsible for moving the mandible.
