In neuroanatomy, the mandibular nerve (V) is the largest of the three divisions of the

trigeminal nerve In neuroanatomy, the trigeminal nerve ( lit. ''triplet'' nerve), also known as the fifth cranial nerve, cranial nerve V, or simply CN V, is a cranial nerve responsible for sensation in the face and motor functions such as biting and che ...

, the fifth cranial nerve (CN V). Unlike the other divisions of the trigeminal nerve ( ophthalmic nerve,

maxillary nerve In neuroanatomy, the maxillary nerve (V) is one of the three branches or divisions of the trigeminal nerve, the fifth (CN V) cranial nerve. It comprises the principal functions of sensation from the maxilla, nasal cavity, sinuses, the pala ...

) which contain only afferent fibers, the mandibular nerve contains both afferent and efferent fibers. These nerve fibers innervate structures of the lower jaw and face, such as the tongue, lower lip, and

chin The chin is the forward pointed part of the anterior mandible ( mental region) below the lower lip. A fully developed human skull has a chin of between 0.7 cm and 1.1 cm. Evolution The presence of a well-developed chin is considered to be one ...

. The mandibular nerve also innervates the muscles of mastication.

Structure

The large sensory root emerges from the lateral part of the

trigeminal ganglion A trigeminal ganglion (or Gasserian ganglion, or semilunar ganglion, or Gasser's ganglion) is the sensory ganglion at the base of each of the two trigeminal nerves (CN V), occupying a cavity ( Meckel's cave) in the dura mater, covering the tri ...

and exits the cranial cavity through the foramen ovale. Portio minor, the small motor root of the

, passes under the trigeminal ganglion and through the foramen ovale to unite with the sensory root just outside the

skull The skull is a bone protective cavity for the brain. The skull is composed of four types of bone i.e., cranial bones, facial bones, ear ossicles and hyoid bone. However two parts are more prominent: the cranium and the mandible. In humans, th ...

. 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 and large posterior trunk. The anterior division gives off branches to three major muscles of mastication and a buccal branch which is sensory to the cheek. The posterior division gives off three main sensory branches, the auriculotemporal, lingual and inferior alveolar nerves and motor fibres to supply mylohyoid and the anterior belly of the digastric muscle.

Branches

The mandibular nerve gives off the following branches: * From the main trunk of the nerve (before the division) ** muscular branches, which are efferent nerves for the medial pterygoid, tensor tympani, and tensor veli palatini muscles (motor)Illustrated Anatomy of the Head and Neck, Fehrenbach and Herring, Elsevier, 2012, page 181 ** meningeal branch (a sensory nerve) * From the anterior division **

masseteric nerve The masseteric nerve is a nerve of the face. It is a branch of the mandibular nerve (V3). It crosses the mandibular notch to reach masseter muscle. It supplies the masseter muscle, and gives sensation to the temporomandibular joint. It may be used ...

(motor) ** deep temporal nerves, anterior and posterior (motor) ** buccal nerve (a sensory nerve) ** lateral pterygoid nerve (motor) * From the posterior division ** auriculotemporal nerve (a sensory nerve) ** lingual nerve (a sensory nerve) **

inferior alveolar nerve The inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) (also the inferior dental nerve) is a branch of the mandibular nerve, which is itself the third branch of the trigeminal nerve. The inferior alveolar nerves supply sensation to the lower teeth. Structure The inf ...

(which gives off a motor nerve and a sensory nerve) *** mental nerve (sensory branch) and the nerve to mylohyoid (motor branch)

Supplies

The mandibular nerve innervates: Anterior Division: (Motor Innervation - Muscles of mastication) *

Masseteric nerve The masseteric nerve is a nerve of the face. It is a branch of the mandibular nerve (V3). It crosses the mandibular notch to reach masseter muscle. It supplies the masseter muscle, and gives sensation to the temporomandibular joint. It may be used ...

** Masseter * Medial pterygoid nerve ** Medial Pterygoid ** Tensor Tympani * Tensor Veli Palatini Nerve ** Tensor Veli Palatini * nervous spinosus (sensory) from foramen spinosum * Lateral pterygoid nerve ** Lateral pterygoid * Deep temporal nerve ** Temporalis (Sensory Innervation) * Buccal nerve ** Inside of the Cheek ( buccal mucosa)
Posterior Division Lingual Split
(Sensory Innervation - NOT Taste) * Anterior 2/3 of Tongue ( mucous membrane) Inferior Alveolar Split
(Motor Innervation) * Mylohyoid * Digastric (Anterior Belly) (Sensory Innervation) *

Teeth A tooth ( : teeth) is a hard, calcified structure found in the jaws (or mouths) of many vertebrates and used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores and omnivores, also use teeth to help with capturing or wounding prey, ...

and

Mucoperiosteum Mucoperiosteum is a compound structure consisting of mucous membrane and underlying periosteum. It includes epithelium and lamina propria, but attaches directly to the periosteum of underlying bone without the usual submucosa. It consists of loos ...

of mandibular teeth *

Chin The chin is the forward pointed part of the anterior mandible ( mental region) below the lower lip. A fully developed human skull has a chin of between 0.7 cm and 1.1 cm. Evolution The presence of a well-developed chin is considered to be one ...

and Lower Lip Auriculotemporal Split * Scalp ( auricula / temporal region)

Additional images

File:Gray784.png, Dermatome distribution of the trigeminal nerve File:Gray790.png, The nerves of the scalp, face, and side of neck. File:Slide8nnn.JPG, Mandibular nerve File:Mandibular nerve 3.jpg, Mandibular nerve

References

External links