Chapter 29: Normal Anatomy - Panoramic Images

mastoid process

marked prominence of bone located posterior and inferior to TMJ; part of temporal bone; appears as a long rounded radiopacity

styloid process

long, pointed and sharp projection of bone that extends downward from the inferior surface of the temporal bone anterior to the mastoid process; appears as a long radiopaque spine

external auditory meatus

hole, or opening, in the temporal bone located superior and anterior to the mastoid process; appears as a round or ovoid radiolucency

glenoid fossa

concave, depressed area of temporal bone; appears as a concave radiopacity superior to the mandibular condyle

articular eminence

rounded projection of the temporal bone located anterior to the glenoid fossa; appears as a rounded radiopaque projection of the bone

lateral pterygoid plate

thin, wing-shaped bony extension of the sphenoid bone located distal to the maxillary tuberosity region; appears as a rounded radiopaque projection of bone

pterygomaxillary fissure

narrow space that separates the lateral pterygoid plate and maxilla; appears as a rounded radiolucent area in the shape of an elongated and inverted teardrop

maxillary tuberosity

rounded prominence of bone that extends posterior to the third molar region; appears as a rounded radiopaque bulge distal to the third molar region

infraorbital foramen

hole or opening in bone inferior to the border of the orbit; appears as a round or ovoid radiolucency

orbit

bony cavity that contains the eyeball; appears as a round radiolucent compartment with radiopaque borders located superior to the maxillary sinuses

incisive canal

passageway through bone that extends from the superior foramina of the incisive canal to the incisive foramen; appears as a tubelike radiolucent area with radiopaque borders

incisive foramen

opening, or hole, in bone that is located at the midline of the anterior portion of the hard palate directly posterior to the maxillary central incisors; appears as a small, ovoid or round radiolucency located between the roots of the max central incisors

anterior nasal spine

sharp, bony projection of the maxilla located at the anterior-inferior portion of the nasal cavity; appears as a v-shaped radiopaque area located at the intersection of the floor of the nasal cavity and nasal septum

nasal cavity

pear-shaped compartment of bone located superior to the maxilla; appears as a v-shaped radiolucent area superior to the max incisors

nasal septum

vertical bony wall that divides the nasal cavity into the right and left nasal fossae; appears as a vertical radiopaque partition

hard palate

bony wall that separates the nasal cavity from the oral cavity; appears as a horizontal radiopaque band superior to the apices of max teeth

maxillary sinus

paired cavities or compartments of bone that are located within the maxilla, superior to the maxillary posterior teeth; appears as a paired radiolucent areas located superior to the apices of maxillary premolars and molars

floor of max sinus

paired cavities or compartments of bone that are located within the maxilla, superior to the maxillary posterior teeth; composed of dense cortical bone and appears as a radiopaque line

zygomatic process of maxilla

bony projection of the maxilla that articulates with the zygoma; appears as a j- or u-shaped radiopacity located superior to the maxillary first molar region

zygoma

cheekbone; articulates with the zygomatic process of the maxilla; appears as a diffuse radiopaque band that extends posteriorly from the zygomatic process of the maxilla

hamulus

small, hooklike projection of bone that extends from the medial pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone; appears as a radiopaque hooklike projection posterior to the maxillary tuberosity area

mandibular condyle

rounded projection of bone extending from the posterior superior border of the ramus of the mandible; appears as a bony rounded radiopaque projection

sigmoid notch

curved depression located between the mandibular condyle and the coronoid process of the mandible; appears as a radiopaque curved depression

coronoid process

thin, prominence of bone that is shaped like a crow’s beak and is found on the anterior-superior ramus of the mandible; appears as a triangle radiopacity posterior to the maxillary tuberosity region

mandibular foramen

round or ovoid hole in bone on the lingual aspect of the ramus of the mandible; appears as a round or ovoid radiolucency entered within the ramus of the mandible

lingula

small, tongue-shaped prohection of bone seen adjacent to the mandibular foramen; appears as an indistinct radiopacity anterior to the mandibular foramen

mandibular canal

tubelike passageway through bone that travels within the body or length of the mandible; appears as a radiolucent band outlined by two thin radiopaque lines representing the cortical walls of the canal

mental foramen

opening or hole in bone located on the external surface of the mandible region of the mandibular premolars; appears as a small, ovoid or round radiolucency located in the apical region of the mandibular premolars

hyoid bone

horseshoe-shaped bone that lies below the mandible, between the chin and the thyroid cartilage; appears as a floating curved radiopacity at or below the inferior border of the body of the mandible

mental ridge

linear prominence of cortical bone located on the external surface of the anterior portion of the mandible that extends from the premolar region to the midline; appears as a radiopaque band that extends from the mandibular premolar region to the incisor region

mental fossa

scooped-out depressed area of bone located on the external surface of the anterior mandible above the mental ridge in the mandibular incisor region; appears as a radiolucent area above the mental ridge

lingual foramen

tiny opening, or hole, in bone located on the internal surface of mandibular near the midline; appears as a small radiolucent dot located inferior to the apices of the mandibular incisors

genial tubercles

tiny bumps of bone that are located on the lingual aspect of the mandible; appears as a ring-shaped radiopacity surrounding the lingual foramen

inferior border of the mandible

thick, linear prominence of cortical bone that defines the lower border of the mandible; appears as a dense radiopaque band that outlines the lower border of the mandible

mylohyoid ridge

linear prominence of bone located on the internal surface of the mandible that extends from the third molar region downward and forward toward the apical area of the premolars; appears as a dense radiopaque band

internal oblique rudge

linear prominence of bone located on the internal surface of the mandible that extends downward and forward from the ramus; appears as a dense radiopaque band

external oblique ridge

linear prominence of bone located on the external surface of the mandible that extends downward and forward from the ramus to the molar region; appears as a dense radiopaque band

palatoglossal air space

air space between palate and tongue; horizontal radiolucent band above the apices of max teeth

nasopharyngeal air space

air space in the pharynx that is located posterior to the nasal cavity; diagonal radiolucent band above the soft palate

glossopharyngeal air space

air space in the pharynx that is located posterior to the tongue and the oral cavity; vertical radiolucent band superimposed over the ramus of the mandible