Histology and intramandibular course of the inferior alveolar nerve

The morphology of the inferior alveolar nerve is a very important factor for all surgical procedures in the mandibular region. The aim of this anatomical and histological study was to describe the intramandibular course and the microscopic histology of the inferior alveolar nerve in the dissected human cadaver. Twenty partially dentulous hemimandible specimens from human cadavers were dissected and embalmed, and the findings were interpreted by standard and histological imaging. The result of this study showed that the inferior alveolar nerve comprises two larger nerves that are separately wrapped in perineural sheaths and spirally twisted around each other. The mental nerve exits through the mental foramen in the premolar region and the dental nerve continues from the premolar region as the incisive nerve in the incisive canal. These findings provide relevant data for clinical dentistry, especially when planning oral and dental operative treatment procedures in the mandibular region.