STUDY OF THE SIZE OF THE CORONOID PROCESS OF MANDIBULE.

The mandible serves as an important structure in relation to mastication as all the muscles of mastication are attached to it. The Coronoid process is the anterior bony projected part of ramus of mandible giving attachment to two important muscles of mastication. The aim of our study was to observe the variation in the size of coronoid process in relation to its side (laterality), shape, age and sex. The material for this study comprised of 80 (160 sides) dry human mandibles. The age and sex differentiating criteria were detailed in materials and methods. The size of coronoid process was found to be approximately 1.5 mm longer on the right side than on the left side; 0.01 mm longer in males than females and 0.01 mm longer in dentulous than in edentulous. Triangular coronoid process was found to be the longest followed by round and then hook shaped. Male hormonal impact on muscle growth, bone remodeling and psychology probably lead to enhanced functional stress on mandible due to mastication as compared to that in females. Pterygoid muscles are involved mainly in side to side movement and Masseter-Temporalis (M-T) component in the robust vertical thrust during mastication for crushing. The condyloid process is for pterygoid and M-T-Coronoid Lever complex engenders the proportionate sexual dimorphism as observed in this study. Poor crushing activity in the edentulous is also corroborated in our observation.This comparative study is a pioneer study which will be beneficial for the Anthropologists, Forensic scientists and Reconstructive surgeons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]