Tuberculum Impar: The Midline Swelling Behind Tongue Formation

Question 1. Tuberculum impair.
Answer:

The medial ends of the two mandibular processes are separated by a midline swelling.
This is called tuberculum impar.
Immediately behind it, the epithelium proliferates to form a down growth (thyroglossal duct) from which the thyroid gland develops.
The site of this downgrowth is subsequently marked by a depression called foramen caecum.
The anterior two-thirds of the tongue is formed by the fusion of the tuberculum impar and the two lingual swellings.

Question 2. Submerged teeth.
Answer:

They are ankylosed deciduous teeth usually located in the mandibular posterior region.
They occur since the occlusal table of the retained smaller-sized tooth is located below the occlusal plane of the rest of the teeth in the arch.
It is merely a deciduous tooth.
It may occur because of the congenital absence of an underlying permanent tooth.
Normally the surrounding permanent teeth which have erupted earlier, lock the submerged deciduous molar in its original position.

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