[Age-related differences of blood flow distribution in canine mandibular ramus]

Blood flow distributions of canine mandibular rami in two different age groups were measured using the radioactive microsphere technique. The blood flow rates (ml/min/100g) of six regions of canine mandibular ramus in the infant group were 20.26 +/- 3.45, 10.70 +/- 2.69, 6.52 +/- 2.59, 8.92 +/- 2.47, 14.19 +/- 3.33 and 12.05 +/- 3.07. The blood flow rates of the correspondent regions of mandibular ramus in the adult group were 12.02 +/- 2.31, 8.65 +/- 2.02, 4.39 +/- 1.47, 6.07 +/- 1.28, 7.44 +/- 1.70, and 5.49 +/- 1.42. The blood flow rates of six regions of mandibular ramus in the infant group were all significantly higher than that of the correspondent regions of the adult group. The distribution patterns of blood supply to mandibular ramus are also not identical between the infant and the adult groups. The age-related differences of blood flow distribution of canine mandibular ramus reflects the intimate relation between the blood supply and growth of mandibular ramus.