Variation in lingual nerve course: A human cadaveric study

Al-Amery, S.M. and Nambiar, Phrabhakaran and Naidu, Murali and Ngeow, Wei Cheong (2016) Variation in lingual nerve course: A human cadaveric study. PLoS ONE, 11 (9). e0162773. ISSN 1932-6203, DOI https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0162773.

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0162773

Abstract

The lingual nerve is a terminal branch of the mandibular nerve. It is varied in its course and in its relationship to the mandibular alveolar crest, submandibular duct and also the related muscles in the floor of the mouth. This study aims to understand the course of the lingual nerve from the molar area until its insertion into the tongue muscle. This cadaveric research involved the study of 14 hemi-mandibles and consisted of two parts: (i) obtaining morphometrical measurements of the lingual nerve to three landmarks on the alveolar ridge, and (b) understanding non-metrical or morphological appearance of its terminal branches inserting in the ventral surface of the tongue. The mean distance between the fourteen lingual nerves and the alveolar ridge was 12.36 mm, and they were located 12.03 mm from the lower border of the mandible. These distances were varied when near the first molar (M1), second molar (M2) and third molar (M3). The lingual nerve coursed on the floor of the mouth for approximately 25.43 mm before it deviated toward the tongue anywhere between the mesial of M1 and distal of M2. Thirteen lingual nerves were found to loop around the submandibular duct for an average distance of 6.92 mm (95% CI: 5.24 to 8.60 mm). Their looping occurred anywhere between the M2 and M3. In 76.9% of the cases the loop started around the M3 region and the majority (69.2%) of these looping ended at between the first and second molars and at the lingual developmental groove of the second molar. It gave out as many as 4 branches at its terminal end at the ventral surface of the tongue, with the presence of 2 branches being the most common pattern. An awareness of the variations of the lingual nerve is important to prevent any untoward complications or nerve injury and it is hoped that these findings will be useful for planning of surgical procedures related to the alveolar crest, submandibular gland/duct and surrounding areas.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords: Alveolar ridge; Anatomic landmark; Anatomical variation; Article; Cadaver; Human; Human tissue; Lingual nerve; Male; Mandible; Molar tooth; Submandibular gland duct; Tongue
Subjects: R Medicine
R Medicine > RK Dentistry
Divisions: Faculty of Dentistry
Faculty of Medicine
Depositing User: Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim
Date Deposited: 09 Nov 2017 03:37
Last Modified: 27 Sep 2019 08:54
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/18189

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