Genioglossus muscle attachments: an anatomic analysis and the implications for genioglossus advancement.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the exact dimensions of the attachments of musculature to the genial tubercles and to describe their relationships to the anterior mandible.


METHODS
Ten randomly selected adult cadavers with intact mandibular dentition and without periodontal disease underwent midline sectioning and precise measurements with a caliper to evaluate the dimensions of the attachments of associated musculature.


RESULTS
The average thickness of the mandible at the genial tubercle was 12.6 mm. The average thickness of the mandible at the inferior border at pogonion was 14.5 mm. The average distance from the genial tubercle to the inferior border was 14.2 mm. The average distance from the apex of the incisors to the genial tubercle was 11.8 mm. The width of the genioglossus muscle itself was 13.8 mm.


CONCLUSIONS
This study precisely evaluates the attachment area of the genioglossus muscle and its relationship to the anterior mandible. These findings help estimate the dimensions of osteotomies made in the anterior mandible for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea to offer the greatest amount of muscular advancement.
Silverstein
K
K
The University of Pennsylvania Health System, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
Costello
B J
BJ
Giannakpoulos
H
H
Hendler
B
B
D000328:Adult; D002680:Chin / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012016:Reference Values; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000601:surgery; D014059:Tongue / Q000033:anatomy & histology*