Comparative Anatomy of Mandibular Neurovascular Canals in Modern Human and Great Apes: A Pilot Study With Cone Beam Computed To Mography - Comparative Anatomy of Mandibular Neurovascular Canals in Modern Human and Great Apes: A Pilot Study With Cone Beam Computed To Mography - Open Access Pub

The aim of the present study was to compare mandibular neurovascular canal anatomy in human and great apes by using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The anatomical variability of mandibular neurovascular canals (mandibular, incisive and lingual canals) of 129 modern humans and great apes (Homo, Pan and Gorilla) were analyzed by linear measurements on CBCT images. The Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test and Dunn’s all pairs for joint ranks were applied to compare the variability of mandibular canals among these groups. Human, Chimpanzee and Gorilla groups showed significant differences in the dimensions of the mandibular canal, mental foramen, incisive canal, lingual canal and anterior mandibular bone width. Bifid mandibular canals and anterior loops were the anatomical variations most frequently observed in the Gorilla. Humans had a larger mental foramen and a distinctive incisive canal. The latter could not be identified in the Gorilla group. The variability in the anatomy within mandibles of human and non-human primates, shows different forms in the neurovascular structures. In comparison to the mandible of great apes, the incisive canal is suggested to be a feature unique to the human mandible. DOI10.14302/issn.2577-2279.ijha-17-1903 The anatomy of the human mandible has been widely studied by means of advanced imaging technologies such as cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)1, 2, 3, 4, which is able to provide accurate, essentially immediate and non-invasive 3D radiographic images of teeth, soft-tissues, nerve paths and bone structures in the craniofacial region. With the growing morphology studies using 3D imaging in vivo or in vitro, in combination with increasingly sophisticated computer graphics applications, it also shows potentials of CBCT in the application of comparative anatomy, anthropology and forensic medicine for paleontologists5, 6, 7. Mandibular anatomy has been revisited by 3D imaging with a focus on the mental foramen 8, mandibular canal9, 10, incisive canal11, 12, lingual canal6, 13, 14, 15. Although the mandibular form may reflect functional adaptation to forces experienced during mastication16, the mandibular neurovascular canal has been considered as the most stable structure guiding mandibular development17, 18. It thus may be a relevant structure to indicate nerves intra- and inter- specific patterning related to mandibular anatomy. Furthermore, it was considered that the diversities related to nerves are cranial discrete traits of the modern human skull19. These anatomy variations in the mandible canal may result from a