Abstract

*Ibeachu P. C. and David L. K.

ABSTRACT

Mandible is most durable and the strongest bone of skull, having various morphological features which can be useful in identification of race, sex and age of the skeleton. Coronoid process can be an excellent graft for maxillofacial reconstructive surgeries. Primary aim of the present study is to assess the shape and size of the coronoid process of macerated dry adult human mandibles. A total number of 50 mandibles with 100 corresponding right and left sides obtained from the museum of anatomy Departments, University of Port-Harcourt Nigeria were used in this study. Data obtained were analyzed and compared using t-test, and the findings are follows; Triangular shaped coronoid process was found to be most predominant type (45%) followed by rounded (33%) and hook (22%) types. The mean and standard deviation of the length, width and index of the right and left sides of the Triangular shaped coronoid process was found to be 14.41±2.43mm and 14.34±3.16mm, 14.30±2.08mm and 14.53±2.54mm and 102.32±23.97mm and 105.92±30.75mm respectively; while the mean and standard deviation of the length, width and index of the right and left sides of the Rounded shaped coronoid process was 13.94±1.94mm and 13.70±1.65mm, 14.98±2.35mm and 14.78±2.10mm and 109.33±21.38mm and 109.16±20.19mm respectively; and also the mean and standard deviation the length, width and index of the right and left sides of the Hook shaped coronoid process was 13.99±1.36mm and 14.09±1.57mm, 13.58±1.43mm and 14.04±1.83mm and 97.35±13.71mm and 100.51±14.89mm respectively. With regards to asymmetry, the right and left coronoid process showed no statistically significant difference at (p