title: Topography and spatial fascicular arrangement of the human inferior alveolar nerve.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Topography and fascicular arrangement of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) can provide critical information for the estimation of damage to IAN based on patient symptoms, or conversely to evaluate the symptoms resulting from injury to the IAN.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The fascicular composition and organization of the IAN were determined to confirm the microarchitecture of the IAN bundles into each of the mandibular teeth, including the composition of the mental nerve.
  
  
  METHODS
  The IAN within the mandibular canal (MC) was examined in 30 hemifaces of embalmed Korean cadavers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common patterns of nerve fascicle innervation to the mandibular teeth could be grossly classified into three: (1) the superior buccal portion of the IAN innervating the molars, (2) the superior portion innervating the premolars, and (3) the superior lingual or the superior lingual and inferior lingual portions in the posterior MC and the lingual portions in the anterior MC, innervating the incisors and canine. The buccal two-thirds portion of the IAN was composed of the mental nerve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IAN had distinctive fascicular organizations, which make it possible to forecast the degree, location, and extent of nerve damage according to presenting symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Assistant professor, Department of Anatomy, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Gangneung, South Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Sun
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.affiliation: adjunct professor, Department of Oral Biology, Division in Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Oral Science Research Center, Human Identification Research Center, Brain Korea 21 Project, Research Center for Orofacial Hard Tissue Regeneration, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeon-Cheol
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: graduate student, Department of Oral Biology, Division in Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Oral Science Research Center, Human Identification Research Center, Brain Korea 21 Project, Research Center for Orofacial Hard Tissue Regeneration, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Won
authors.affiliation: assistant professor, Department of Oral Biology, Division in Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Oral Science Research Center, Human Identification Research Center, Brain Korea 21 Project, Research Center for Orofacial Hard Tissue Regeneration, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: assistant professor, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Wu-Chul
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: professor, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: professor, Department of Oral Biology, Division in Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Oral Science Research Center, Human Identification Research Center, Brain Korea 21 Project, Research Center for Orofacial Hard Tissue Regeneration, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hee-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D061221:Trigeminal Nerve Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography