Presence of antilingula and its relationship to mandibular foramen-An anatomical study

Aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of antilingula and its relationship with mandibular foramen.

In this study, a total of 50 specimens of dry human hemi-mandibles were studied to analyze the presence and relationship of antilingula to mandibular foramen. A 1-mm fissure bur was used to drill a hole perpendicular to bone from the deepest aspect of the concavity at the center of the mandibular foramen from the medial to lateral side, the drill perforated both the medial and lateral cortex of the mandible. The distance from the antilingula to hole was measured and recorded in both antero-posterior and supero-inferior planes. The data were collected and put to statistical analysis.

From this study, it was concluded that the antilingula was present in 90% (n = 45) of mandibles and was absent in 10% (n = 5) of mandibles. Antero-posteriorly, the antilingula was present anterior to mandibular foramen in 22.2% (n = 10) of mandibles, posteriorly in 57.7% (n = 26) of mandibles, and there was complete concordance in 20% (n = 9) of mandibles. The supero-inferior relation shows that antilingula was present superior to mandibular foramen in 97.8% (n = 44) of mandibles, and it was present inferiorly in 2.20 (n = 1) of mandibles.

Although vertical ramus osteotomy is not a commonly used procedure in these days. From our study, it was concluded that antilingula was present as an elevation in 90% of cases on the lateral ramus border and the mandibular foramen is present inferior and anterior to the antilingula.