title: The extramandibular inferior alveolar nerve in cases with severely atrophic lower jaws.
abstract: There are very few evidences on the extramandibular course (EMC) of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). We report here two such cases. The first one was encountered at dissection, in a human adult female cadaver where the right IAN terminal division was identified in the premolar region, above a severely atrophied mandibular body. The second case was a patient evaluated by cone-beam CT, who presented with an extremely atrophic mandible with bilateral extramandibular courses of the IANs. Such severe atrophy of the mandible may be considered as residual ridge class 7 along with the existing Atwood classes. EMCs of the IAN may not only occur in extreme mandibular atrophy, but also in dentate mandibles. In edentulous mandibles, an extramandibular IAN may complicate local surgical procedures or hamper denture wearing.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Anatomy, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, 8 Eroilor Sanitari Blvd, 76241, Bucharest, Romania, anatomon@gmail.com
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rusu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Săndulescu
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Ciuluvică
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Sendroiu
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Didilescu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011859:Radiography