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Anatomy & Histology · single question

In the region of the mandibular foramen, what is the relative anteroposterior (or lateral-to-medial) positional relationship among the inferior alveolar nerve, inferior alveolar artery, and lingual nerve?

  1. Inferior alveolar nerve, then inferior alveolar artery, then lingual nerve
  2. Lingual nerve, then inferior alveolar nerve, then inferior alveolar artery
  3. Inferior alveolar artery, then lingual nerve, then inferior alveolar nerve
  4. All three structures run directly alongside each other with no consistent positional relationship
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Correct answer: A. Inferior alveolar nerve, then inferior alveolar artery, then lingual nerve

At the level of the mandibular foramen, the classically taught positional relationship places the inferior alveolar artery BETWEEN the inferior alveolar nerve and the lingual nerve — with the IAN positioned more posterolaterally, the artery in the middle, and the lingual nerve positioned more anteromedially (and more superficially, closer to the lingual cortical plate).

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