Discriminant study of the development of the mandibular units in a neural reference system.

The mandible is a complex osteological structure composed of distinct units integrated into a single bone around the director axis of the mandibular nerve. In this study of the mandibular development, we use a method that synthesizes the contributions of each sub-unit, using the mandibular canal as reference system. This novel approach results in new informations and confirms the leading role of the mandibular nerve and of its curve in mandibular development. It would seem to be possible to explain a major part of mandibular development by the role of the nerve as guide.