On the nutrient arterial branches of the mandibular ramus in the dog by the plastic injection method.

The arterial distribution within the mandible and maxillae, which are the only structures having teeth, is more complicated than that of other bones. The whole mandible, including the teeth, is nourished chiefly by the inferior alveolar artery. The mandibular ramus receives small vessels not only from the inferior alveolar artery, but also from the mandibular branch of the maxillary, the posterior deep temporal, the masseteric, and the transverse facial arteries. To date, the arterial supply of the mandible, particularly the mandibular ramus, has not been described adequately ; therefore, little information about the arterial supply has been available in the literature. The present observations will deal with the nutrient arterial branches of the mandibular ramus in the dog using the plastic injection method.