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The mandibular symphysis accommodates these specializations being both at the end of a biomechanical lever and an antenna for sensation. Little is known about the anatomy of the crocodylian mandibular symphysis, hampering our understanding of form, function, and evolution of the joint in extant and extinct lineages. We explore mandibular symphysis anatomy of an ontogenetic series of <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"><jats:italic>Alligator mississippiensis<\/jats:italic><\/jats:styled-content> using imaging, histology, and whole mount methods. Complex sutural ligaments emanating about a midline\u2010fused Meckel's cartilage bridge the symphysis. These tissues organize during days 37\u201342 of <jats:italic>in ovo<\/jats:italic> development. However, interdigitations do not manifest until after hatching. These soft tissues leave a hub and spoke\u2010like bony morphology of the symphyseal plate, which never fuses. Interdigitation morphology varies within the symphysis suggesting differential loading about the joint. Neurovascular canals extend throughout the mandibles to alveoli, integument, and bone adjacent to the symphysis. These features suggest the <jats:italic>Alligator<\/jats:italic> mandibular symphysis offers compliance in an otherwise rigid skull. We hypothesize a fused Meckel's cartilage offers stiffness in hatchling mandibles prior to the development of organized sutural ligaments and mineralized bone while offering a scaffold for somatic growth. The porosity of the dentaries due to neurovascular tissues likely allows transmission of sensory and proprioceptive information from the surroundings and the loaded symphysis. Anat Rec, 302:1696\u20131708, 2019. \u00a9 2019 American Association for Anatomy<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1002\/ar.24116","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2019,3,18]],"date-time":"2019-03-18T14:36:15Z","timestamp":1552919775000},"page":"1696-1708","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":17,"title":["Anatomy and Ontogeny of the Mandibular Symphysis in <scp><i>Alligator mississippiensis<\/i><\/scp>"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"302","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0774-1613","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Emily J.","family":"Lessner","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Program in Integrative Anatomy, Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences University of Missouri Medical School  Columbia Missouri"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cortaiga A.","family":"Gant","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Program in Integrative Anatomy, Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences University of Missouri Medical School  Columbia Missouri"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tobin L.","family":"Hieronymus","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Northeast Ohio Medical University  Rootstown Ohio"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Matthew K.","family":"Vickaryous","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences University of Guelph  Guelpgh Ontario Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8210-8434","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Casey M.","family":"Holliday","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Program in Integrative Anatomy, Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences University of Missouri Medical School  Columbia Missouri"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,4,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_6_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1098\/rspb.2017.0038"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_3_1","first-page":"665","volume-title":"Zoological society of London symposium 52","author":"Bellairs A'A","year":"1984"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_4_1","first-page":"1","volume-title":"Biology of the Reptilia","author":"Bellairs A'A","year":"1981"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_5_1","first-page":"373","volume-title":"Wildlife Management: Crocodiles and Alligators. 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