title: Microsurgical anatomy of the inferior alveolar neurovascular plexus.
abstract: Microdissection of the cadaveric human inferior neurovascular bundle showed that the inferior alveolar nerve after its origin from the mandibular division forms what can only be described as a plexus. The main trunk of the inferior alveolar nerve exhibits a branching structure reminiscent of the brachial plexus of the upper limb. This plexus-like nature is compounded by delicate interweaving of the inferior alveolar artery. Study of external carotid angiograms showed a general decrease in size of the inferior alveolar artery with increase in age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zoud
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Doran
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004210:Dissection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000294:innervation; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply; D008866:Microsurgery