[Correlation between morphologies of mandibular vertical sections and linear measurements of the skull]

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationships between the sectional forms of the mandible and the craniofacial morphology. Vertical sections were made at the symphysis (SY) and at the second molar region (M2R). Materials were dried human skulls which were measured in three dimensional co-ordinate system. The correlation matrix of 24 measurements was examined in the male and the female. The difference of these measurements between the low angle group and the high angle group of gonial angle was also examined. Results obtained were as follows: 1. Gonial angle was negatively correlated with the height, width, breadth of ramus and the breadth of second molars. SY form was related to the facial height and size of the mandible. On the other hand, M2R form was related to the height, width and breadth of ramus. 2. The differences of measurements between the low angle group and the high angle group of gonial angle were as follows: 1) The ramal height, ramal width, bicondylar width and breadth of second molars in the low angle group were significantly larger than those in the high angle group. 2) The measurements of SY in the high angle group and the low angle group showed no significant difference. 3) The height and area of M2R in the low angle group were significantly larger than those in the high angle group. This study demonstrated that SY form might relate to vertical factors of the face (facial height), the size of mandible and the types of occlusions. On the other hand, M2R form being nearer to the attachment of masseter and medial pterygoid muscles than SY was related to the form of ramus and the gonial angle.