CT Study of the Medial Depression of the Human Mandibular Ramus

The aim of this study was to describe the radiographic features of the medial depression of the human mandibular ramus (MDMR) on CT images. The radiographic features of the depression were assessed on multiplanar reformatting (MPR) section of CT scans of eighteen mandibles with 36 MDMRs. The MDMR was observed to be a smooth bone concavity with intact medial and lateral cortical plate located on the medial aspect and anterior to the greatest depth of the sigmoid notch. The average mediolateral depth of the depression was 1.64 mm (Std Dev 0.63 mm), while the average thickness of the thinnest area of the mandibular ramus at the site of the depression was 1.08 mm (Std Dev 0.33 mm). The average anterioposterior width of the depression was 10.39 mm (Std Dev. 3.36 mm). The soft tissue window images showed that the temporalis tendon inserts at the depression in all cases. MDMRs have CT features that help in its identification.

Automated summary

This study aimed to describe the radiographic features of the medial depression of the human mandibular ramus (MDMR) on CT images. The MDMR was observed to be a smooth bone concavity with intact medial and lateral cortical plate located on the medial aspect and anterior to the greatest depth of the sigmoid notch, with CT features that help in its identification.