Growth & Development of Mandible

Mandible (from Latin mandibula, “jawbone”) or inferior maxillary bone forms the lower
jaw and holds the lower teeth in place. In the midline on the anterior surface of the mandible
is a faint ridge, an indication of the mandibular symphysis, where the bone is formed by
the fusion of right and left processes during the mandibular development. Like other
symphysis in the body, this is a midline articulation where the bones are joined by
fibrocartilage, but this articulation is fused together in early childhood (Narender R et al,
2016).

STRUCTURE:

The mandible consists of a curved, horizontal portion, the body or base; two perpendicular
parts, the ramus one on each side unites with the ends of the body at the right angles.

The angle formed at this junction is called gonial angle; alveolar process, the tooth bearing
area of the mandible present above the base of the mandible; condyle present at a projection
superior and posterior from the ramus and makes temporomandibular joint with temporal
bone; coronoid process is superior and anterior projection from the ramus. The coronoid
process provides attachment to the temporalis muscle and the mandible articulates with the
two temporal bones at the TMJ joint (Inderbir, 2012).

Fig.2.1 Structure of Mandible

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 Growth & Development of Mandible

EXTERNAL SURFACE:

The external surface is found in the median line by a faint ridge indicating the symphysis
of the two pieces of the composed bone.

The ridge divides below and encloses a triangular eminence called the mental protuberance
with its base depressed at the centre but raised on either side to form the mental tubercle.

The incisive fossa, a depression found below the incisive teeth on either side of the
symphysis gives origin to the mentalis along with a small portion of the orbicularis oris.
The mental foramen providing the passage of the mental vessels and nerves is present at
the midway between the upper and lower border of the body on either side below the second
premolar.

Fig.2.2 External Surface of Mandible

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 Growth & Development of Mandible

INTERNAL SURFACE:

The internal surface is concave and has mental spines laterally at the lower part of
symphysis and gives origin to genioglossus. Immediately below is the median ridge or an
impression giving origin to the geniohyoid. The mental spines are found fused forming a
single eminence. Median foramen and a furrow are found above the mental spines and an
oval depression is found below the mental spines on either side providing attachment to
the anterior belly of digastrics. The mylohyoid line extending upward and backward gives
origin to the mylohyoid muscle and the posterior part are found near the alveolar margin,
gives attachment to a small part of constrictor pharynges superior and the
pterygomandibular raphe. Above the anterior part the sublingual gland and the oval
depression for the submaxillary gland is seen.

Fig.2.3 Internal Surface of Mandible

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 Growth & Development of Mandible

BORDERS:

The superior or alveolar border, has hollow cavity for the reception of teeth. These
cavities are sixteen in number and vary in depth and size according to the teeth they contain.
The buccinator is attached outer to the superior border near the first molar tooth. The
inferior border is rounded, longer than that of the superior, joins the lower border of the
ramus of the mandibular and forms a shallow groove for facial artery.

FORAMEN:

The mandibular foramen is paired in the medial aspect of the mandible, superiorly to the
mandibular angle in the middle of the ramus and laterally to the mental protuberance, on
the body of mandible lies inferior to the apices of the mandibular first and second
premolars. As the mandible grows with age the mental foramen alters in direction of its
opening from anterior to posterosuperior. The mental foramen allows the entrance of the
mental nerve and blood vessels into the mandibular canal. Inferior alveolar nerve branch
of the mandibular division of trigeminal nerve enters the mandibular foramen and runs
forward in the mandibular canal, supplying sensation to the teeth. At the mental foramen,
the nerve divides into two terminal branches: incisive and mental nerves; the incisive nerve
runs forward in the mandible and supplies to the anterior teeth. The mental nerve exits the
mental foramen and supplies sensation to the lower lip.

DEVELOPMENT:
The ossification of the mandible refers to the human mandible laying down new bone
material in the fibrous membrane covering the outer surfaces of the Meckel’s cartilage
(Narender R et al, 2016).
For better description development of the mandible it is divided into:
1. Body of the mandible.
2. The rami
3. The alveolar process

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 Growth & Development of Mandible

I. THE BODY OF THE MANDIBLE

Their proximal or cranial ends are connected to the ear capsules, and their distal extremities
are joined to one another at the symphysis by mesodermal tissue.
Meckel’s cartilage has a close relationship with the mandibular nerve, at the junction
between proximal and middle thirds the mandibular nerve divides into the lingual and
inferior dental nerve. The lingual nerve passes forward, on the medial side of the cartilage,
while the inferior dental lies lateral to its upper margins and runs forward parallel to it and
terminates by dividing into the mental and incisive branches.

Fig.2.4 Development of Body of Mandible External View.

Fig. 2.5 Development of Body of Mandible Internal View.

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 Growth & Development of Mandible

From the proximal end of each cartilage; the malleus and incus, two of the bones of the
middle ear, are developed; the next succeeding portion, as far as the lingula, is replaced by
fibrous tissue persisting to form the sphenomandibular ligament and the perichondrium of
the cartilage persist as sphenomallular ligament.

Between the lingula and the canine tooth the cartilage disappears, while the portion of it
below and behind the incisor teeth becomes ossified and incorporated with this part of the
mandible. The mandible first appears as a band of dense fibrocellular tissue lying on the
lateral side of the inferior dental and incisive nerves for each half of the mandible.

Ossification takes place in the membrane covering the outer surface of Meckel's cartilage
and each half of the bone is formed from a single centre appearing in the region of
bifurcation of the mental and incisive branches, about the sixth week of fetal life.

Ossification grows medially below the incisive nerve and then spreads upwards between
this nerve and Meckel’s cartilage, so the incisive nerve is contained in a trough or a groove
of bone formed by the lateral and medial plates united beneath the nerve.

Fig.2.6 MECKEL’S CARTILAGE

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 Growth & Development of Mandible

At the same stage the notch containing the incisive nerve extends ventrally around the
mental nerve to form the mental foramen. Also the bony trough grows rapidly forwards
towards the middle line where it comes in close relationship with the similar bone of the
opposite side, but from there it is separated by connective tissue.

A similar spread of ossification in the backward direction; produces at first a trough of bone
in which lies the inferior dental nerve and much later the mandibular canal is formed. The
ossification stops at the site of future lingula. With these processes of growth the original
primary centre of ossification produces the body of the mandible.

II. THE RAMI OF THE MANDIBLE

The ramus of the mandible develops by a rapid spread of ossification backwards into the
mesenchyme of the first branchial arch diverging away from Meckel’s cartilage. This point
of divergence is marked by the mandibular foramen.

Somewhat later, accessory nuclei of cartilage make their appearance:

 A wedge-shaped nucleus in the condyloid process and extending downward through the
ramus.

 A small strip along the anterior border of the coronoid process.

Fig.2.7 Development of Rami of Mandible

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 Growth & Development of Mandible

A. The condylar cartilage:

Carrot shaped cartilage appears in the region of the condyle and occupies most of the
developing ramus. It is rapidly converted to bone by endochondral ossification (14th. WIU)
and it gives rise to:

1. Condyle head and neck of the mandible.

2. The posterior half of the ramus to the level of inferior dental foramen

B. The coronoid cartilage:

It is relatively transient growth cartilage centre (4th. - 6th. MIU). It gives rise to:

1. Coronoid process.

2. The anterior half of the ramus to the level of inferior dental foramen

These accessory nuclei possess no separate ossification centres, but are invaded by the
surrounding membrane bone and undergo absorption.

III. The alveolar process

It starts when the deciduous tooth germs reach the early bell stage. The bone of the mandible
begins to grow on each side of the tooth germ. With this growth the tooth germs get into a
trough or groove of bone, which also includes the alveolar nerves and blood vessels.

Later on, septa of bone between the adjacent teeth germs develop, keeping each tooth
separate in its bony crept. The mandibular canal is separated from the bony crypts by a
horizontal plate of bone. The alveolar processes grow at a rapid rate during the periods of
tooth eruption.

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