Morphological and Morphometrical Analysis of Condylar Process of the Mandible and its Surgical Relevance

Mandible, known to be the lower jaw bone is the strongest and the largest bone in the human face, forming the lower jaw consists of ramus which has a horseshoe shaped body and two processes - the coronoid and condylar processes. The condyloid process consists of a neck surmounted by an oval head with an articular facet in the process. The aim of the study is to morphologically and morphometrically analyze the condylar process of the human mandible. 55 unsexed mandibles were taken from the Department of Anatomy, Saveetha Dental College. The length and width of the condylar processes of the taken mandibles were measured with the help of vernier caliper. After measuring the dimensions [length and width] the shapes of the condylar processes were observed along with it. The data were statistically analyzed by unpaired t test derived from the SPSS software. The left mandibular condyle was greater in mesio-distal diameter when compared to the right mandibular condyle. On considering the antero-posterior diameter, the right mandibular condyle was greater in the diameter. And most of the condyles observed were plane shaped rather than round and pointed ones. These analyses can help the surgeons to plan treatments for fractures in TMJ regions and other parts of the mandible too.