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Mental foramen
Other Terms:
Foramen mentale,
Foramen mentonnier
Description
This is the external opening from the mental canal that branches from the mandibular canal and transmits the mental vessels and nerves to the soft tissues of the chin. It is situated below the second premolar tooth near the midpoint of the body.
Etymology
Mental comes from the Latin mentum meaning chin, which in turn probably derived from Latin minae meaning a projecting point, therefore the projection of the mandible. Foramen is the Latin term designating a hole-like opening. It is derived from the Latin forare meaning to bore or perforate.
Latin
Foramen mentale
French
Foramen mentonnier