The buccal nerve (long buccal nerve) is a sensory

nerve A nerve is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of nerve fibers (called axons). Nerves have historically been considered the basic units of the peripheral nervous system. A nerve provides a common pathway for the Electrochemistry, electrochemical nerv ...

of the face arising from the mandibular nerve (CN V3) (which is itself a branch of the

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

). It conveys sensory information from the skin of the cheek, and parts of the oral mucosa, periodontium, and gingiva.

Structure

Origin

The buccal nerve is a branch of the anterior division of the mandibular nerve (CN V3). It is the only sensory branch of the anterior division.

Course and relations

After branching from the anterior trunk of the mandibular nerve (CN V3), the buccal nerve passes between the two heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle, underneath the

tendon A tendon or sinew is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue, dense fibrous connective tissue that connects skeletal muscle, muscle to bone. It sends the mechanical forces of muscle contraction to the skeletal system, while withstanding tensi ...

of the

temporalis muscle In anatomy, the temporalis muscle, also known as the temporal muscle, is one of the muscles of mastication (chewing). It is a broad, fan-shaped convergent muscle on each side of the head that fills the temporal fossa, superior to the zygomatic a ...

. It then passes anterior to the ramus of the mandible to first course deep to the masseter muscle, and finally anteroinferiorly upon surface of the

buccinator muscle The bucinator () is a thin quadrilateral muscle occupying the interval between the maxilla and the Human mandible, mandible at the side of the face. It forms the anterior part of the cheek or the lateral wall of the oral cavity.Illustrated Anatom ...

before piercing this muscle.

Communications

It connects with the buccal branches of the facial nerve on the surface of the

. It gives off many significant branches.

Distribution

The buccal nerve provides sensory innervation to the skin of the cheek, the buccal mucosa, buccal periodontium, and gingiva of mandibular/lower molar and second premolar teeth (until the

mental foramen The mental foramen is one of two foramina (openings) located on the anterior surface of the mandible. It is part of the mandibular canal. It transmits the terminal branches of the inferior alveolar nerve and the mental vessels. Structure Th ...

). It also issues proprioceptive fibres into the buccinator muscle.

Clinical significance

Anesthesia

Buccal nerve block (long buccal nerve block) is indicated for procedures involving the mucosa adjacent to the posterior molar teeth, such as the placement of a rubber dam clamp. The injection site is distal and buccal to the third molar, with the needle penetrating 1-2mm as the nerve lies directly below the mucosa. A buccal nerve block is carried out after an inferior alveolar nerve block for specific procedures, such as extraction of mandibular molar teeth.

Surgical damage

The buccal nerve may be damaged by surgical incisions near the external oblique ridge of the

mandible In jawed vertebrates, the mandible (from the Latin ''mandibula'', 'for chewing'), lower jaw, or jawbone is a bone that makes up the lowerand typically more mobilecomponent of the mouth (the upper jaw being known as the maxilla). The jawbone i ...

Additional images

File:Gray790.png, The nerves of the scalp, face, and side of neck. File:Slide2pav.JPG, Infaorbital and buccal nerve. Superficial dissection. Lateral view.

References

* "Nerve, buccal." ''Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 27th ed.'' (2000). * ''Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice.'' (2005). ;Specific

External links

* * * () * () {{Authority control Mandibular nerve