The incidence and relationship of the lateral ramus prominence to the mandibular foramen.

A study was undertaken to determine the incidence of the lateral ramus prominence and its relationship to the mandibular foramen. The lateral ramus prominence, as determined by inspection and palpation, was identified on both the right and left rami of all specimens. Bilateral measurements were made on fifty randomly selected adult dentulous mandibles. Significant correlation coefficients were obtained for all measurements between right and left rami. Therefore, either the left or right side measurement for each parameter was selected at random, and the data were subjected to statistical analysis. The lateral ramus prominence varied from 4.7 mm. anterior to 4.7 mm. posterior to the foramen, and from 0.9 mm. to 16.2 mm. superior to the foramen. It was located anterior to the foramen 66 per cent of the time.