Mu Sam Kang1, Hyun Gu Kang2, Yong Seok Nam3, In-Beom Kim4. 1. Department of Anatomy, Catholic Institute for Applied Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, South Korea; Da Vinci Cosmetic Surgery Clinic, Gumi-Si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 39431, South Korea. 2. Department of Anatomy, Catholic Institute for Applied Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, South Korea; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Naju Community Health Center, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do 58213, South Korea. 3. Department of Anatomy, Catholic Institute for Applied Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, South Korea. Electronic address: boffin@catholic.ac.kr. 4. Department of Anatomy, Catholic Institute for Applied Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, South Korea. Electronic address: ibkimmd@catholic.ac.kr.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To present anatomical characteristics of three true ligaments of the mandible and better understanding of jowl formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Facial dissections were performed in 10 fresh cadavers (20 hemifaces) using 2.5 magnifying surgical loupes. Mental ligament, medial mandibular ligament, and mandibular osteocutaneous ligament were identified as thick fibrous tissue originating from the mandible. RESULTS: The location of the mental ligament was 9.1 ± 2.8 mm lateral to the midline and 8.4 ± 3.8 mm superior to the inferior border of the mandible. The medial mandibular ligament was located 28.5 ± 4.9 mm lateral to the midline and 8.4 ± 2.7 mm superior to the inferior border of the mandible. The mandibular osteocutaneous ligament was located 51.1 ± 4.5 mm lateral to the midline and 9.1 ± 3.1 mm superior to the inferior border of the mandible. CONCLUSIONS: We investigated location and tension of two unfamiliar ligaments in the mandible, the mental and medial mandibular ligaments medial to the mandibular osteocutaneous ligament, and confirmed them as true ligaments by histology. Our findings suggest that the cause of the jowl formation is mainly descent of the cheek fat compartments, but not laxity of mandibular osteocutaneous ligament.
PURPOSE: To present anatomical characteristics of three true ligaments of the mandible and better understanding of jowl formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Facial dissections were performed in 10 fresh cadavers (20 hemifaces) using 2.5 magnifying surgical loupes. Mental ligament, medial mandibular ligament, and mandibular osteocutaneous ligament were identified as thick fibrous tissue originating from the mandible. RESULTS: The location of the mental ligament was 9.1 ± 2.8 mm lateral to the midline and 8.4 ± 3.8 mm superior to the inferior border of the mandible. The medial mandibular ligament was located 28.5 ± 4.9 mm lateral to the midline and 8.4 ± 2.7 mm superior to the inferior border of the mandible. The mandibular osteocutaneous ligament was located 51.1 ± 4.5 mm lateral to the midline and 9.1 ± 3.1 mm superior to the inferior border of the mandible. CONCLUSIONS: We investigated location and tension of two unfamiliar ligaments in the mandible, the mental and medial mandibular ligaments medial to the mandibular osteocutaneous ligament, and confirmed them as true ligaments by histology. Our findings suggest that the cause of the jowl formation is mainly descent of the cheek fat compartments, but not laxity of mandibular osteocutaneous ligament.