The medial pterygoid nerve (or internal pterygoid nerve) is a nerve of the head. It is a branch of the

mandibular nerve In neuroanatomy, the mandibular nerve (V) is the largest of the three divisions of the trigeminal nerve, the fifth cranial nerve (CN V). Unlike the other divisions of the trigeminal nerve (ophthalmic nerve, maxillary nerve) which contain only aff ...

(CN V₃). It supplies the

medial pterygoid muscle The medial pterygoid muscle (or internal pterygoid muscle), is a thick, quadrilateral muscle of the face. It is supplied by the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve (V). It is important in mastication (chewing). Structure The medial ptery ...

, the

tensor veli palatini muscle The tensor veli palatini muscle (tensor palati or tensor muscle of the velum palatinum) is a broad, thin, ribbon-like muscle in the head that tenses the soft palate. Structure The tensor veli palatini is found anterior-lateral to the levator ve ...

, and the

tensor tympani muscle The tensor tympani is a muscle within the middle ear, located in the bony canal above the bony part of the auditory tube, and connects to the malleus bone. Its role is to dampen loud sounds, such as those produced from chewing, shouting, or thunde ...

Structure

The medial pterygoid nerve is a slender branch of the

(CN 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 chewin ...

(CN V). It is the first branch of the mandibular nerve. It enters the deep surface of the

. It passes through the otic ganglion without synapsing, so is neurologically distinct. However, it provides physical support. The medial pterygoid nerve receives some motor fibres from the otic ganglion.

Function

The medial pterygoid nerve supplies the

. It also supplies

, through the

nerve to tensor veli palatini The nerve to tensor veli palatini is a small nerve which is unique in that it is the only branch of the mandibular nerve In neuroanatomy, the mandibular nerve (V) is the largest of the three divisions of the trigeminal nerve, the fifth cranial ...

, one of its branches. Of the five paired skeletal muscles to the soft palate, tensor veli palati muscle is the only muscle not innervated by the pharyngeal plexus. It also supplies the

in the

middle ear The middle ear is the portion of the ear medial to the eardrum, and distal to the oval window of the cochlea (of the inner ear). The mammalian middle ear contains three ossicles, which transfer the vibrations of the eardrum into waves in the ...

References

{{Authority control Mandibular nerve