Genial tubercles are what?

• A. Foramina for salivary ducts
• B. Bony projections that attach the genioglossus and geniohyoid muscles; appear radiopaque.
• C. A depression on the mandible
• D. A groove on the lingual surface

Answer: (B)

Genial tubercles are small bony projections on the inner surface of the mandible at the midline. They serve as the attachment points for the genioglossus muscle and the geniohyoid muscle. Because they’re bone, they show up as radiopaque on radiographs. The superior genial tubercles give origin to the genioglossus, while the inferior genial tubercle provides the origin for the geniohyoid. The other descriptions—being foramina, a depression, or a groove—do not describe these bony projections.