Mandibular notch
{{Short description|Groove in the ramus of the mandible}}
{{Infobox bone
| Name = Mandibular notch
| Latin = incisura mandibulae
| Image = Mandibular notch - lateral view.png
| Caption = Position of mandibular notch in skull, shown in red.
| Image2 = Mandibular notch - close-up - superior view2.png
| Caption2 = Position of mandibular notch in mandible, shown in red.
|PartOf=mandible|System=skeletal}}
The mandibular notch, also known as the sigmoid notch, is a groove in the ramus of the mandible. It is the gap between the coronoid process anteriorly and the condyloid process posteriorly.
Structure
The mandibular notch is a concave groove at the top of the ramus of the mandible. It is the gap between the coronoid process anteriorly and the condyloid process posteriorly.
Function
The mandibular notch allows for the passage of the masseteric nerve (a branch of the mandibular nerve (V3) division of the trigeminal nerve), the masseteric artery, and the masseteric vein.
Clinical significance
The mandibular notch may be palpated to locate the parotid duct, the facial artery, the facial vein,{{Cite book|last=Gelatt|first=Kirk N.|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702034299000067|title=Veterinary Ophthalmic Surgery|publisher=Saunders|year=2011|isbn=978-0-7020-3429-9|pages=141–156|language=en|chapter=6 - Surgery of nasolacrimal apparatus and tear systems|doi=10.1016/B978-0-7020-3429-9.00006-7}} and the medial pterygoid muscle.{{Cite book|last1=Bolton|first1=Kerrie|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978044310310000023X|title=Headache, Orofacial Pain and Bruxism|last2=Selvaratnam|first2=Peter|author-link2=Peter Selvaratnam|publisher=Churchill Livingstone|year=2009|isbn=978-0-443-10310-0|pages=301–320|language=en|chapter=23 - Myofascial trigger point treatment for headache and TMD|doi=10.1016/B978-0-443-10310-0.00023-X}}
Other animals
The mandibular notch can be found in other mammals, such as dogs and cats. There can be significant variation in its shape even within the same species.{{Cite book|last1=Zelditch|first1=Miriam Leah|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123869036000022|title=Geometric Morphometrics for Biologists|last2=Swiderski|first2=Donald L.|last3=Sheets|first3=H. David|date=2012-01-01|publisher=Academic Press|isbn=978-0-12-386903-6|edition=2nd|pages=23–50|language=en|chapter=2 - Landmarks and Semilandmarks|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-386903-6.00002-2}} Archaeological evidence shows that the mandibular notch is different in other hominidae, such as neanderthals, and may be asymmetrical.{{Cite book|last1=Wood|first1=B.|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124201903000028|title=On Human Nature: Biology, Psychology, Ethics, Politics, and Religion|last2=Boyle|first2=E.|publisher=Academic Press|year=2017|isbn=978-0-12-420190-3|pages=17–44|language=en|chapter=2 - Hominins: Context, Origins, and Taxic Diversity|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-420190-3.00002-8}}
Additional images
{{Gallery|File:Mandibular notch - animation.gif|Position of mandibular notch in skull, shown in red.
|File:Mandibular notch - close-up - superior view animation.gif|Position of mandibular notch in mandible, shown in red.
|File:Gray176-Mandibular notch.png|Outer surface of mandible. Mandibular notch is labelled at top right.
}}
References
{{Gray's}}
External links
{{Commons category|Mandibular notch}}
- {{PSUAnatomy|skel/mandible2}}
- [http://www.unc.edu/~jbl/PanAnatomy/skull%20images/coronoid-s.html Diagram at unc.edu]
{{Facial bones}}
{{Portal bar|Anatomy}}
{{Authority control}}