Observation of the position of the lingula in relation to the mandibular foramen and the mylohyoid groove.

There are contradicting data and reports regarding the position of the mandibular lingula in relation to the mandibular foramen and the mylohyoid groove. The current observation attempts to describe the location of the lingula in relation to the mandibular foramen, and the location of the mylohyoid groove in relation to the lingula and mandibular foramen. Fifty adult black Tanzanian mandibles were used in this study. The lingula was observed to belong into 5 major groups based on shape and size as large nodular, small nodular, large triangular, small triangular, and small bony spicule type located anterior or posterior to the mandibular foramen. In 64% (32) of the mandibles the mylohyoid groove originated from the medial wall of the mandibular foramen, at the posterior border of the lingula, in 24% (12) the mylohyoid groove started on medial wall of the mandibular foramen, non-related to the lingula and in 12% (6) at the posterior border of the mandibular foramen. We conclude that in more than half of the adult mandibles the lingula contributes into formation of the anterior half to two third of the medial wall of the mandibular foramen and the mylohyoid groove starts at the posterior border of the lingula. In less than half of the adult mandibles the mylohyoid groove is not related to the lingula starting at the posterior one third of the medial wall or at the posterior border of the mandibular foramen. This implies that the attachment for the sphenomandibular ligament is either on the lingula or on the medial wall of the mandibular foramen or on both leading into variation in the location of the mylohyoid groove.