The masseteric nerve is a nerve of the face. It is a branch of the mandibular nerve (V₃). It crosses the

mandibular notch The mandibular notch, also known as the sigmoid notch, is a groove in the ramus of the mandible. It is the gap between the coronoid process anteriorly and the condyloid process posteriorly. Structure The mandibular notch is a concave groove at ...

to reach

masseter muscle In human 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 ...

. It supplies the masseter muscle, and gives sensation 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 articulation between the temporal bone of the skull above and the mandible below; it is from these bones that it ...

. It may be used to compensate for

facial nerve The facial nerve, also known as the seventh cranial nerve, cranial nerve VII, or simply CN VII, is a cranial nerve that emerges from the pons of the brainstem, controls the muscles of facial expression, and functions in the conveyance of taste ...

paralysis.

Structure

The masseteric nerve is a branch of the mandibular nerve (V₃), itself a branch 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 chew ...

. It passes laterally, above 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 ne ...

, in front of the

temporomandibular articulation In anatomy, the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the two joints connecting the jawbone to the skull. It is a bilateral synovial articulation between the temporal bone of the skull above and the mandible below; it is from these bones that it ...

, and behind 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 zygomati ...

. It crosses the

with 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 transverse ...

. It then reaches the deep surface of the

, often branching into 2 or 3 branches. It ramifies nearly as far as the anterior border of the masseter muscle.

Function

The masseteric nerve supplies the

. It gives sensation to the

Clinical significance

The masseteric nerve may be harvested and used to repair paralysis of the

References

Mandibular nerve {{neuroanatomy-stub

Structure

Function

Clinical significance

See also

References