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Recent studies investigating accessory mental foramina using developments in diagnostic imaging have primarily defined the morphology of the foramina; however, few studies have described the structures passing through them. Additional clinical knowledge of the foramina is therefore required for preoperative diagnosis prior to surgery, including implant, periodontal and periapical surgery. In this study, we investigated the accessory mental foramina and the associated nerves and arteries in donated cadaveric mandibles using anatomical and radiological observation methods. We examined 63 mandibles with overlying soft tissue by cone-beam computed tomography and noted the existence of the accessory mental foramina. Mandibles with accessory mental foramina were subsequently analyzed. Additionally, the neurovascular bundles passing through these foramina were dissected using anatomical methods.The incidence of accessory mental foramina was 14.3%. The larger foramina tended to be located anteriorly or superiorly and proximal to the mental foramen, while the smaller foramina tended to be located posterosuperiorly and distal to the mental foramen. The mental foramen ipsilateral to the accessory mental foramen was smaller than the one contralateral to it. The comparatively distant and large accessory mental foramen included an artery.This study elucidated the relationship between accessory mental foramina and the associated nerves and arteries. We believe that the results will contribute to the clinical dentistry field.

Since three-dimensional computed tomography was developed, many researchers have described accessory mental foramina. The anatomical and radiological findings have been discussed, but details of accessory mental nerves (AMNs) have only been researched in a small number of anatomical and clinical cases. For this article, we reviewed the literature relating to accessory mental foramina (AMFs) and nerves to clarify aspects important for clinical situations. The review showed that the distribution pattern of the AMN can differ according to the position of the accessory mental foramen, and the reported incidence of AMFs differs among observation methods. A review of clinical cases also revealed that injury to large AMF can result in paresthesia. This investigation did not reveal all aspects of AMNs and AMFs, but will be useful for diagnosis and treatment by many dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Clin. Anat. 28:848–856, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Introduction The accessory foramina could not be identified on some imaging modalities such as surface-rendered images. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of surface-rendered images in detecting these foramina. Materials and methods We analyzed 20 accessory mental foramina (AMF) in nine mandibles removed from cadavers with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and assessed in surface-rendered images. All AMF were divided into three groups depending on their visibility. Results Group 1 included AMF that were clearly visible as foramina, Group 2 were not clearly visible but could be recognized with concave parts, and Group 3 were not visible and the smooth surface of the bone was observed. Group 1 ranged from 1.3 to 5.1 mm2, Group 2 from 0.3 to 3.8 mm2, and Group 3 from 0.2 to 1.1 mm2. A statistically significant difference in the mean size between Groups 1 and 3 was observed. Even if the AMF are smaller (e.g., 1 mm in diameter), they should still be avoided to prevent injury. Conclusions The clinician should be aware that smaller foramina might not be detected on these images.

Recent studies investigating accessory mental foramina using developments in diagnostic imaging have primarily defined the morphology of the foramina; however, few studies have described the structures passing through them. Additional clinical knowledge of the foramina is therefore required for preoperative diagnosis prior to surgery, including implant, periodontal and periapical surgery. In this study, we investigated the accessory mental foramina and the associated nerves and arteries in donated cadaveric mandibles using anatomical and radiological observation methods. We examined 63 mandibles with overlying soft tissue by cone-beam computed tomography and noted the existence of the accessory mental foramina. Mandibles with accessory mental foramina were subsequently analyzed. Additionally, the neurovascular bundles passing through these foramina were dissected using anatomical methods.The incidence of accessory mental foramina was 14.3%. The larger foramina tended to be located anteriorly or superiorly and proximal to the mental foramen, while the smaller foramina tended to be located posterosuperiorly and distal to the mental foramen. The mental foramen ipsilateral to the accessory mental foramen was smaller than the one contralateral to it. The comparatively distant and large accessory mental foramen included an artery.This study elucidated the relationship between accessory mental foramina and the associated nerves and arteries. We believe that the results will contribute to the clinical dentistry field.

Since three-dimensional computed tomography was developed, many researchers have described accessory mental foramina. The anatomical and radiological findings have been discussed, but details of accessory mental nerves (AMNs) have only been researched in a small number of anatomical and clinical cases. For this article, we reviewed the literature relating to accessory mental foramina (AMFs) and nerves to clarify aspects important for clinical situations. The review showed that the distribution pattern of the AMN can differ according to the position of the accessory mental foramen, and the reported incidence of AMFs differs among observation methods. A review of clinical cases also revealed that injury to large AMF can result in paresthesia. This investigation did not reveal all aspects of AMNs and AMFs, but will be useful for diagnosis and treatment by many dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

This report describes a rare case of an arterial anomaly in the celiaco-mesenteric region, encountered in a Japanese female cadaver for dissection at the gross anatomy laboratory of Kurume University School of Medicine in 2003. The usual celiac trunk was not identified, and the left gastric artery, the splenic artery and the hepato-mesenteric trunk independently arose from the abdominal aorta. Moreover, the hepatic artery arising from the hepato-mesenteric trunk ran behind the portal vein. The classification for this type of arterial anomaly is a Type III' of Morita's classification and Type II of Higashi and Hirai's classification, not belong to the Adachi's.

Cisplatin is a platinum-containing antineoplastic agent, widely used in the treatment of various malignant neoplasms including head and neck cancer. In this study we examined ultrastructural changes of rat submandibular glands (SMGs) after cisplatin treatment. Male Wistar rats aged 8 weeks were used in the experiments. Cisplatin was injected intraperitoneally into the rats (5 mg/kg/day) for three consecutive days. After 1, 3, 5, and 7 days, the SMGs were removed and observed under an electron microscope. The terminal portion of the SMG is seromucosal. Acinar cells contained a parallel array of rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum in the basal cytoplasm, and the apical cytoplasm was filled with homogeneous secretory granules. Vacuolation of cells was observed on the first day after cisplatin treatment. On the third and fifth days, the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum showed an irregular arrangement. Mitochondrial swelling, and the presence of autophagolysosomes was also confirmed. On the seventh day, the damage to organelles began to decrease and the SMG exhibited a tendency towards improvement.