Mi-Sun Hur1, Hyeon-Cheol Kim2, Sung-Yoon Won3, Kyung-Seok Hu4, Wu-Chul Song5, Ki-Seok Koh6, Hee-Jin Kim7. 1. Assistant professor, Department of Anatomy, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Gangneung, South Korea. 2. adjunct professor, Department of Oral Biology, Division in Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Oral Science Research Center, Human Identification Research Center, Brain Korea 21 Project, Research Center for Orofacial Hard Tissue Regeneration, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea. 3. graduate student, Department of Oral Biology, Division in Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Oral Science Research Center, Human Identification Research Center, Brain Korea 21 Project, Research Center for Orofacial Hard Tissue Regeneration, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea. 4. assistant professor, Department of Oral Biology, Division in Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Oral Science Research Center, Human Identification Research Center, Brain Korea 21 Project, Research Center for Orofacial Hard Tissue Regeneration, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea. 5. assistant professor, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea. 6. professor, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea. 7. professor, Department of Oral Biology, Division in Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Oral Science Research Center, Human Identification Research Center, Brain Korea 21 Project, Research Center for Orofacial Hard Tissue Regeneration, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Topography and fascicular arrangement of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) can provide critical information for the estimation of damage to IAN based on patient symptoms, or conversely to evaluate the symptoms resulting from injury to the IAN. PURPOSE: The fascicular composition and organization of the IAN were determined to confirm the microarchitecture of the IAN bundles into each of the mandibular teeth, including the composition of the mental nerve. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The IAN within the mandibular canal (MC) was examined in 30 hemifaces of embalmed Korean cadavers. RESULTS: The most common patterns of nerve fascicle innervation to the mandibular teeth could be grossly classified into three: (1) the superior buccal portion of the IAN innervating the molars, (2) the superior portion innervating the premolars, and (3) the superior lingual or the superior lingual and inferior lingual portions in the posterior MC and the lingual portions in the anterior MC, innervating the incisors and canine. The buccal two-thirds portion of the IAN was composed of the mental nerve. CONCLUSION: The IAN had distinctive fascicular organizations, which make it possible to forecast the degree, location, and extent of nerve damage according to presenting symptoms.
BACKGROUND: Topography and fascicular arrangement of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) can provide critical information for the estimation of damage to IAN based on patient symptoms, or conversely to evaluate the symptoms resulting from injury to the IAN. PURPOSE: The fascicular composition and organization of the IAN were determined to confirm the microarchitecture of the IAN bundles into each of the mandibular teeth, including the composition of the mental nerve. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The IAN within the mandibular canal (MC) was examined in 30 hemifaces of embalmed Korean cadavers. RESULTS: The most common patterns of nerve fascicle innervation to the mandibular teeth could be grossly classified into three: (1) the superior buccal portion of the IAN innervating the molars, (2) the superior portion innervating the premolars, and (3) the superior lingual or the superior lingual and inferior lingual portions in the posterior MC and the lingual portions in the anterior MC, innervating the incisors and canine. The buccal two-thirds portion of the IAN was composed of the mental nerve. CONCLUSION: The IAN had distinctive fascicular organizations, which make it possible to forecast the degree, location, and extent of nerve damage according to presenting symptoms.