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Lingula of Mandible — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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ModerateAnatomy (Head & Neck)Lingula of MandibleMFDS Part 1

Which statement most accurately describes the lingula of the mandible?

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Correct answer: B — It lies adjacent to the mandibular foramen and gives attachment to the sphenomandibular ligament

The lingula is a tongue-shaped bony projection on the medial surface of the mandibular ramus, immediately adjacent to and commonly overhanging the mandibular foramen. It provides mandibular attachment for the sphenomandibular ligament and helps indicate the position of the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle. The mental foramen is on the external mandibular body and is unrelated to the lingula. The coronoid process receives temporalis, not masseter, insertion. The genial tubercles lie on the internal symphysis and provide attachments for genioglossus and geniohyoid. The mylohyoid line is a separate ridge on the medial mandibular body that gives origin to mylohyoid.

Reference: Shiozaki H et al. Macroscopic anatomy of the sphenomandibular ligament related to the inferior alveolar nerve block. 2007. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17696031/