DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2022.v10i03.012

Pages: 341-349

The lingula of the mandible (also known as Spix spine) is a finger like bony projection or ridge on the medial surface of the ramus of the mandible, immediately superior to the mandibular foramen. This study aims to determine the morphology and precise location of mandibular lingula in dry adult mandibles. A total number of 42 dry adult mandible gotten from the Department of Anatomy University of Port-Harcourt were used for this study. The four various shapes of lingula were bilaterally determined, classified, measured with Vernier calipers and statistically analyzed. The most predominate found was truncated shape (41.6%), followed by triangular shape (39.27%), while the nodular and assimilated were less prevalent having (9.52%) respectively. Bilateralism were observed in the various shapes but more evident in the truncated and triangular shape. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean right and left values. The right and left mean lingula height were 7.00±1.03 and 7.14±1.11 respectively. The right and left mean lingula distance from anterior were 17.13±3.27 and 17.26±3.44 while the right and left lingula distance from the posterior ramus of the mandible were 17.46± 3.12 and 17.58± 3.03. The right and left mandibular ratio were 0.30±0.25 and 0.52±0.04 respectively. The study has provided a useful data which may give clue of the relevant anatomical structures to dental surgeons during surgical procedures. However, establishment morphological variations of mandibular lingula is very necessary in every population considering it clinical significance in oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures.