| sphenomandibular ligament | <anatomy> The fibrous band that passes from the spine of the sphenoid bone to the lingula of the mandible; it is a primary passive support of the mandible serving as a "swinging axis", enabling depression and elevation around a transverse axis passing through the two lingulae, while at the same time enabling protraction and retraction. Synonym: ligamentum sphenomandibulare. (05 Mar 2000) |
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