THE PRESENCE OF THE ANTILINGULA AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE TRUE LINGULA

20 cadaver mandibles were studied for the presence of an antilingula a nd its relationship to the true lingula and mandibular foramen. Three independent observers evaluated the mandibles for the presence of an a ntilingula. It could be identified on all 40 sides. On 9 of the sides, there was complete concordance on the position of the antilingula bet ween the three observers, On the other 31 sides, howe-ver, there was a variation between observers of up to 11 mm. In only 43% of the cases was the antilingula within 5 mm of the true lingula. In most cases, th e true lingula was postero-inferior to the antilingula. There was a ne gative horizontal and positive vertical correlation between the positi on of the antilingula on one side and its position on the contralatera l side.