The masseteric nerve is a

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. It is a branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V₃). It passes through the mandibular notch to reach

masseter muscle In anatomy, the masseter is one of the muscles of mastication. Found only in mammals, it is particularly powerful in herbivores to facilitate chewing of plant matter. The most obvious muscle of mastication is the masseter muscle, since it is the ...

. It provides motor innervation the masseter muscle, and sensory innervation to the

temporomandibular joint In anatomy, the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the two joints connecting the jawbone to the skull. It is a bilateral Synovial joint, synovial articulation between the temporal bone of the skull above and the condylar process of mandible be ...

Structure

Origin

The masseteric nerve is a branch of (the anterior division of) the mandibular nerve (CN V₃) (itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)).

Course

It passes laterally superior to the

lateral pterygoid muscle The lateral pterygoid muscle (or external pterygoid muscle) is a muscle of mastication. It has two heads. It lies superior to the medial pterygoid muscle. It is supplied by pterygoid branches of the maxillary artery, and the lateral pterygoid n ...

, anterior to the

, and posterior to the tendon 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 crosses (the posterior portion of) the mandibular notch alongside the

masseteric artery The masseteric artery is small and passes laterally through the mandibular notch to the deep surface of the masseter muscle, which it supplies. It anastomoses with the masseteric branches of the external maxillary artery and with the transvers ...

before branching out upon the surface of the

, then entering the muscle.

Distribution

The masseteric nerve provides motor innervation the

. It additionally sends articular (sensory) branches to the

Clinical significance

The masseteric nerve may be harvested and used to repair

paralysis Paralysis (: paralyses; also known as plegia) is a loss of Motor skill, motor function in one or more Skeletal muscle, muscles. Paralysis can also be accompanied by a loss of feeling (sensory loss) in the affected area if there is sensory d ...

of the facial nerve (CN VII).

References