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Ramus of mandible

The ramus of the mandible is a vertical, quadrilateral bony projection extending upwards from the posterior aspect of the mandible. It serves as a crucial structural component, connecting the mandibular body to the temporomandibular joint via its condylar process and to the muscles of mastication through its surfaces and borders. The ramus provides points of attachment for major muscles such as the masseter, medial pterygoid, and temporalis, playing a vital role in jaw movement and mastication. Understanding its anatomy and imaging features is essential in radiology, dentistry, and maxillofacial surgery.

Synonyms

  • Mandibular ramus

  • Ramus mandibulae (Latin)

  • Vertical ramus of mandible

  • Ascending ramus

MRI Appearance of the Ramus of Mandible

Proton Density (PD) Sequence

  • The cortical bone of the ramus appears as a low signal intensity (dark) outline due to dense bone matrix and low water content.

  • The medullary cavity (if visible) shows intermediate signal, reflecting bone marrow composition (mainly fatty marrow in adults).

  • Adjacent soft tissues such as muscles and fat display varying signal intensities, helping delineate the ramus from surrounding structures.

Short Tau Inversion Recovery (STIR) Sequence

  • The cortical bone of the ramus remains low signal (dark) on STIR, similar to PD.

  • Bone marrow edema or inflammation (if present, e.g., in pathology) would appear as high signal (bright) within the medullary space.

  • The STIR sequence is highly sensitive for detecting bone marrow pathology, fractures, or infection within the ramus.

T1-Weighted Sequence

  • The cortical bone of the ramus is consistently very low signal (black/dark) on T1 images.

  • The medullary (marrow) space appears as high signal (bright) if fatty marrow is present, or as intermediate to low signal if cellular (red) marrow or pathology is present.

  • The T1 sequence provides excellent anatomic detail, clearly outlining the ramus, mandibular canal, and adjacent soft tissues.

MRI images

Ramus of mandible mri

CT VRT 3D image

Ramus of mandible 3D