Course The large sensory root of mandibular nerve emerges from the lateral part of the
trigeminal ganglion and exits the
cranial cavity through the
foramen ovale. The motor root (Latin:
radix motoria s.
portio minor), the small motor root of the
trigeminal nerve, passes under the trigeminal ganglion and through the
foramen ovale to unite with the sensory root just outside the
skull. The mandibular nerve immediately passes between
tensor veli palatini, which is medial, and
lateral pterygoid, which is lateral, and gives off a
meningeal branch (nervus spinosus) and the
nerve to medial pterygoid from its medial side. The nerve then divides into a small anterior division and a large posterior division.
Branches The mandibular nerve gives off the following branches: • From the
main trunk (before the division): •
meningeal branch (nervus spinosus) (sensory) •
medial pterygoid nerve (motor) • From the
anterior division: •
masseteric nerve (mixed) •
deep temporal nerves (mixed) •
buccal nerve (sensory) •
lateral pterygoid nerve (motor) • From the
posterior division: •
auriculotemporal nerve (sensory) •
lingual nerve (sensory) •
inferior alveolar nerve (mixed) •
mylohyoid nerve (motor) •
incisive branch (sensory) •
mental nerve (sensory)
Distribution Anterior Division (Motor Innervation -
Muscles of mastication) •
Masseteric nerve •
Masseter muscle •
Medial pterygoid nerve •
Medial pterygoid muscle •
Tensor tympani muscle •
Tensor veli palatini (via
tensor veli palatini branch) •
Lateral pterygoid nerve •
Lateral pterygoid muscle •
Deep temporal nerve •
Temporalis muscle (Sensory Innervation) •
Buccal nerve • Inside of the cheek (
buccal mucosa) • Nervous spinosus (sensory)
Posterior Division Lingual Split (general sensory innervation (
not special sensory for taste)) • Anterior 2/3 of
Tongue (
mucous membrane) Inferior Alveolar Split (Motor Innervation) •
Mylohyoid •
Digastric (Anterior Belly) (Sensory Innervation) •
Teeth and
Mucoperiosteum of mandibular teeth •
Chin and
Lower Lip Auriculotemporal Split •
Scalp (
auricula / temporal region) ==See also==