Mandibular nerve

The mandibular nerve (CN5-3, n. mandibularis; inferior maxillary nerve)
(Figs. 778, 781)
 * The mandibular nerve supplies the teeth and gums of the mandible, the skin of the temporal region, the auricula, the lower lip, the lower part of the face, and the muscles of mastication;
 * The mandibular nerve supplies the mucous membrane of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.
 * The mandibular nerve is the largest of the three divisions of the fifth cranial nerve.
 * ,The mandibular nerve is made up of two roots:sensory root and motor root
 * The sensory root of mandibular nerve is proceeding from the inferior angle of the semilunar ganglion.
 * The motor root of mandibular nerve is the motor part of the trigeminal nerve.
 * The motor root of mandibular nerve passes beneath the ganglion, and unites with the sensory root, just after its exit through the foramen ovale.
 * Immediately beneath the base of the skull, the mandibular nerve gives off branches and then divides into an anterior trunk and a posterior truck.
 * The Nervus Spinosus is a recurrent branch of mandibular nerve.
 * The Nervus Spinosus enters the skull through the foramen spinosum with the middle meningeal artery.
 * The Nervus Spinosus divides into two branches, anterior and posterior, which accompany the main divisions of the artery and supply the dura mater;
 * the posterior branch of nervus spinosus also supplies the mucous lining of the mastoid cells
 * the anterior branch of nervus spinosus communicates with the meningeal branch of the maxillary nerve.

FIG. 781– Mandibular division of the trifacial nerve. (Testut.) (See enlarged image)

The Internal Pterygoid Nerve (n. pterygoideus internus).

 * The Internal Pterygoid Nerve is a slender branch of mandibular nerve.
 * The Internal Pterygoid Nerve enters the deep surface of the pterygoideus internus muscle.
 * The Internal Pterygoid Nerve gives off one or two filaments to the otic ganglion.

Anterior division of mandibular nerve

 * The anterior division of the mandibular nerve receives nearly the whole of the fibers of the motor root of the nerve
 * The anterior division of the mandibular nerve supplies the muscles of mastication and the skin and mucous membrane of the cheek.
 * The anterior division of the mandibular nerve's branches are the masseteric nerve, deep temporal nerve, buccinator nerve, and external pterygoid nerve.

Masseteric nerve

 * The Masseteric Nerve is a branch of of mandibular nerve.
 * The Masseteric Nerve passes lateralward, above the Pterygoideus externus muscle, in front of the temporomandibular articulation, and behind the tendon of the Temporalis;
 * The Masseteric Nerve crosses the mandibular notch with the masseteric artery, to the deep surface of the Masseter, in which it ramifies nearly as far as its anterior border.
 * The Masseteric Nerve gives a filament to the temporomandibular joint.

Deep temporal nerve

 * The Deep Temporal Nerves is a branch of of mandibular nerve.
 * The Deep Temporal Nerves are two in number, anterior and posterior.
 * The Deep Temporal Nerves pass above the upper border of the Pterygoideus externus muscle and enter the deep surface of the Temporalis muscle.
 * The posterior branch of The Deep Temporal Nerve is smaller than anterior branch of The Deep Temporal Nerve.
 * The posterior branch of The Deep Temporal Nerve is placed at the back of the temporal fossa, and sometimes arises in common with the masseteric nerve.
 * The anterior branch of The Deep Temporal Nerve is frequently given off from the buccinator nerve.
 * The anterior branch of The Deep Temporal Nerve turns upward over the upper head of the musclus Pterygoideus externus.
 * Frequently a third or intermediate branch is present for The Deep Temporal Nerve.

Buccinator nerve

 * The Buccinator Nerve is AKA long buccal nerve
 * The Buccinator Nerve is a branch of mandibular nerve.
 * The Buccinator Nerve passes forward between the two heads of the Pterygoideus externus muscle.
 * The Buccinator Nerve goes downward beneath or through the lower part of the Temporalis muscle
 * The Buccinator Nerve emerges from under the anterior border of the Masseter muscle.
 * The Buccinator Nerve ramifies on the surface of the Buccinator muscle.
 * The Buccinator Nerve unites with the buccal branches of the facial nerve.
 * The Buccinator Nerve supplies a branch to the Pterygoideus externus muscle during its passage through that muscle
 * The Buccinator Nerve may give off the anterior deep temporal nerve.
 * The buccinator nerve supplies the skin over the Buccinator muscle,
 * The buccinator nerve supplies mucous membrane lining its inner surface.

External Pterygoid Nerve (n. pterygoideus externus)

 * External Pterygoid Nerve is a branch of mandibular nerve.
 * External Pterygoid Nerve supply the Pterygoideus externus mucle
 * External Pterygoid Nerve frequently arises in conjunction with the buccinator nerve
 * External Pterygoid Nerve may be given off separately from the anterior division of the mandibular nerve.
 * External Pterygoid Nerve enters the deep surface of the Pterygoideus externus muscle.

Posterior division of mandibular nerve

 * The posterior and larger division of the mandibular nerve is for the most part sensory.
 * The posterior and larger division of the mandibular nerve receives a few filaments from the motor root.
 * The posterior division of the mandibular nerve divides into auriculotemporal nerve, lingual nerve, and inferior alveolar nerves.

auriculotemporal nerve

 * The Auriculotemporal Nerve is one of a posterior larger divisions of mandibular nerve.
 * The Auriculotemporal Nerve generally arises by two roots, between which the middle meningeal artery ascends.
 * The Auriculotemporal Nerve runs backward beneath the Pterygoideus externus muscle to the medial side of the neck of the mandible.
 * The Auriculotemporal Nerve then turns upward with the superficial temporal artery.
 * The Auriculotemporal Nerve turn between the auricula and condyle of the mandible.
 * The Auriculotemporal Nerve goes under cover of the parotid gland
 * The Auriculotemporal Nerve ascends over the zygomatic arch escaping from beneath the parotid gland.
 * The Auriculotemporal Nerve divides into superficial temporal branches.
 * the auriculotemporal nerve communicates with the facial nerve and with the otic ganglion via communicating branches.
 * The branches from auriculotemporal nerve to the facial nerve,are usually two in number.
 * The branches from auriculotemporal nerve to the facial nerve pass forward from behind the neck of the mandible and join the facial nerve at the posterior border of the Masseter.
 * The filaments from auriculotemporal nerve to the otic ganglion are derived from the roots of the auriculotemporal nerve close to their origin.
 * The anterior auricular branches of auriculotemporal nerve are usually two in number.
 * The anterior auricular branches of auriculotemporal nerve supply the front of the upper part of the auricula.
 * The anterior auricular branches of auriculotemporal nerve is distributed principally to the skin covering the front of the helix and tragus of the auricula.
 * The branches of auriculotemporal nerve to the external acoustic meatus is AKA n. meatus auditorii externi.
 * The branches of auriculotemporal nerve to the external acoustic meatus are two in number
 * The branches of auriculotemporal nerve to the external acoustic meatus enter the meatus between its bony and cartilaginous portions and supply the skin lining it.
 * the upper branche of auriculotemporal nerve to the external acoustic meatus sends a filament to the tympanic membrane.
 * The articular branches of auriculotemporal nerve consist of one or two twigs which enter the posterior part of the temporomandibular joint.
 * The parotid branches of auriculotemporal nerve supply the parotid gland.
 * The superficial temporal branches of auriculotemporal nerve accompany the superficial temporal artery to the vertex of the skull
 * The superficial temporal branches of auriculotemporal nerve supply the skin of the temporal region and communicate with the facial nerve and zygomaticotemporal nerve.

Lingual nerve

 * The Lingual Nerve is a branch of mandibular nerve.
 * The Lingual Nerve supplies the mucous membrane of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.
 * The Lingual Nerve lies at first beneath the Pterygoideus externus, medial to and in front of the inferior alveolar nerve.
 * The Lingual Nerve is occasionally joined to inferior alveolar nerve by a branch which may cross the internal maxillary artery.
 * The chorda tympani also joins The Lingual Nerve at an acute angle in this situation.
 * The Lingual Nerve then passes between the Pterygoideus internus muscle and the ramus of the mandible.
 * The Lingual Nerve crosses obliquely to the side of the tongue over the Constrictor pharyngis superior and Styloglossus muscle,
 * The Lingual Nerve go between the Hyoglossus and deep part of the submaxillary gland;
 * The Lingual Nerve finally runs across the duct of the submaxillary gland, and along the tongue to its tip, lying immediately beneath the mucous membrane.
 * The Lingual Nerve's branches of communication are with the facial nerve, the inferior alveolar nerve and hypoglossal nerve, and the submaxillary ganglion.
 * The Lingual Nerve communicate with the facial nerve through the chorda tympani.
 * The communicating branches of The Lingual Nerve to the submaxillary ganglion are two or three in number.
 * The communicating branches of lingual nerve with the hypoglossal nerve form a plexus at the anterior margin of the Hyoglossus.

FIG. 782– Mandibular division of trifacial nerve, seen from the middle line. The small figure is an enlarged view of the otic ganglion. (Testut.) (See enlarged image)
 * Lingual nerve's branches of distribution supply the sublingual gland, the mucous membrane of the mouth, the gums, and the mucous membrane of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue;
 * the terminal filaments of lingual nerve communicate with the hypoglossal nerve at the tip of the tongue.

The Inferior Alveolar Nerve
(n. alveolaris inferior; inferior dental nerve)(Fig. 782)
 * The Inferior Alveolar Nerve is the largest branch of the mandibular nerve.
 * The Inferior Alveolar Nerve descends with the inferior alveolar artery
 * The Inferior Alveolar Nerve at first go beneath the Pterygoideus externus
 * The Inferior Alveolar Nerve goes between the sphenomandibular ligament and the ramus of the mandible to the mandibular foramen.
 * The Inferior Alveolar Nerve then passes forward in the mandibular canal, beneath the teeth, as far as the mental foramen.
 * in the the mental foramen Inferior Alveolar Nerve divides into two terminal branches, incisive and mental.
 * The branches of the inferior alveolar nerve are the mylohyoid nerve, dental, incisive, and mental.
 * The mylohyoid nerve is derived from the inferior alveolar nerve just before it enters the mandibular foramen.
 * The mylohyoid nerve descends in a groove on the deep surface of the ramus of the mandible
 * The mylohyoid nerve supplies the Mylohyoideus muscle from under surface.
 * The mylohyoid nerve supplies the anterior belly of the Digastricus.
 * The dental branches of Inferior Alveolar Nerve supply the molar teeth and premolar teeth.
 * The dental branches of Inferior Alveolar Nerve correspond in number to the roots of those teeth
 * Each of the dental branches of Inferior Alveolar Nerve entering the orifice at the point of the root, and supplying the pulp of the tooth;
 * the dental branches of Inferior Alveolar Nerve form an inferior dental plexus above the alveolar nerve.
 * The incisive branch of the inferioralveolar nerve is continued onward within the bone, and supplies the canine and incisor teeth.
 * The mental nerve is a branch of the inferioralveolar nerve.
 * The mental nerve emerges at the mental foramen,
 * The mental nerve divides into three branches beneath the Triangularis muscle
 * one of trifurcating branch of mental nerve descends to the skin of the chin,
 * two of trifurcating branch ascend to the skin and mucous membrane of the lower lip
 * trifurcating branches of mental nerve communicate freely with the facial nerve.
 * Two small ganglia, the otic ganglion and the submaxillary ganglion, are connected with the mandibular nerve.

FIG. 783– The otic ganglion and its branches. (See enlarged image)

Otic Ganglion
Branches of Communication.
 * Otic Ganglion (ganglion oticum)(Fig. 783).
 * —The otic ganglion is a small, ovalshaped, flattened ganglion
 * The otic ganglion has a reddish-gray color,
 * The otic ganglion situated immediately below the foramen ovale
 * The otic ganglion lies on the medial surface of the mandibular nerve
 * The otic ganglion surrounds the origin of the nerve to the Pterygoideus internus.
 * The otic ganglion is in relation, laterally, with the trunk of the mandibular nerve at the point where the motor and sensory roots join
 * The otic ganglion is in relation medially, with the cartilaginous part of the auditory tube, and the origin of the Tensor veli palatini;
 * The otic ganglion is in relation posteriorly, with the middle meningeal artery.
 * Otic Ganglion is connected by two or three short filaments with the nerve to the Pterygoideus internus, from which it may obtain a motor, and possibly a sensory root.
 * Otic Ganglion communicates with the glossopharyngeal nerve and facial nerves, through the lesser superficial petrosal nerve continued from the tympanic plexus, and through this nerve it probably receives a root from the glossopharyngeal and a motor root from the facial;
 * Otic Ganglion's sympathetic root consists of a filament from the plexus surrounding the middle meningeal artery.
 * The fibers from the glossopharyngeal nerve which pass to the otic ganglion in the small superficial petrosal nerve are supposed to be sympathetic efferent (preganglionic) fibers from the dorsal nucleus or inferior salivatory nucleus of the medulla.
 * Fibers (postganglionic) from the otic ganglion with which these form synapses are supposed to pass with the auriculotemporal nerve to the parotid gland.
 * A slender filament (sphenoidal) ascends from it to the nerve of the Pterygoid canal, and a small branch connects it with the chorda tympani.
 * Otic ganglion's branches of distribution are: a filament to the Tensor tympani, and one to the Tensor veli palatini.
 * The Otic ganglion's distributing branches to the Tensor tympani passes backward, lateral to the auditory tube;
 * The Otic ganglion's distributing branches to Tensor veli palatini arises from the ganglion, near the origin of the nerve to the Pterygoideus internus, and is directed forward.
 * The fibers of The Otic ganglion's distributing branches to Tensor veli palatini are, however, mainly derived from the nerve to the Pterygoideus internus.


 * [Pocket Atlas] Otic ganglion is a parasympathetic ganglion.
 * [Pocket Atlas] Otic ganglion locates medial to the mandibular nerve below the foramen ovale.
 * [Pocket Atlas] Otic ganglion receives fibers from glossopharyngeal nerve via the lesser petrosal nerve.
 * [Pocket Atlas] Otic ganglion sends secretory fibers to the parotid gland.

FIG. 784– Sensory areas of the head, showing the general distribution of the three divisions of the fifth nerve. (Modified from Testut.) (See enlarged image)

Submaxillary Ganglion (ganglion submaxillare; submandibular ganglion)
(Fig. 778).—
 * The submaxillary ganglion is of small size and is fusiform in shape.
 * The submaxillary ganglion is situated above the deep portion of the submaxillary gland
 * The submaxillary ganglion is situated on the hyoglossus muscle, near the posterior border of the Mylohyoideus muscle
 * The submaxillary ganglion is connected by filaments with the lower border of the lingual nerve.


 * The submaxillary ganglion is suspended from the lingual nerve by two filaments which join the anterior and posterior parts of the ganglion.
 * The submaxillary ganglion receives a branch from the chorda tympani nerve which runs in the sheath of the lingual nerve.
 * communicating fibers of chorda tympani and submaxillary ganglion are sympathetic efferent (preganglionic) fibers from the facial nucleus or the superior salivatory nucleus of the medulla oblongata that terminate in the submaxillary ganglion.
 * The postganglionic fibers pass to the submaxillary gland, it communicates with the sympathetic by filaments from the sympathetic plexus around the external maxillary artery.
 * The submaxillary ganglion's branches of distribution are five or six in number;
 * The submaxillary ganglion's branches of distribution arise from the lower part of the ganglion
 * The submaxillary ganglion's branches of distribution supply the mucous membrane of the mouth and the duct of the submaxillary gland, some being lost in the submaxillary gland.
 * The branch of communication from the lingual nerve to the forepart of the submaxillary ganglion is by some regarded as a branch of distribution
 * through communicating branch between the lingual nerve to the forepart of the submaxillary ganglion, filaments are conveyed to the sublingual gland and the tongue.


 * [Pocket Atlas] The submandibular ganglion is a parasympathetic ganglion.
 * [Pocket atlas] The submandibular ganglion locates above the submandibular gland.
 * [Pocket atlas] The submandibular ganglion is a synaptic station for preganglionic fibers of the chorda tympani.
 * [Pocket atlas] The submandibular ganglion sends postganglionic fibers to the sublingual gland and submandibular gland.