neuroanatomy Neuroanatomy is the study of the structure and organization of the nervous system. In contrast to animals with radial symmetry, whose nervous system consists of a distributed network of cells, animals with bilateral symmetry have segregated, defi ...

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

, the fifth

cranial nerve Cranial nerves are the nerves that emerge directly from the brain (including the brainstem), of which there are conventionally considered twelve pairs. Cranial nerves relay information between the brain and parts of the body, primarily to and f ...

(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 Sense, sensation from the maxilla, nasal cavity, Sinus (anatomy ...

) which contain only afferent fibers, the mandibular nerve contains both afferent and efferent fibers. These nerve fibers innervate structures of the

lower jaw 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 ...

and face, such as the

tongue The tongue is a Muscle, muscular organ (anatomy), organ in the mouth of a typical tetrapod. It manipulates food for chewing and swallowing as part of the digestive system, digestive process, and is the primary organ of taste. The tongue's upper s ...

lower lip The lips are a horizontal pair of soft appendages attached to the jaws and are the most visible part of the mouth of many animals, including humans. Mammal lips are soft, movable and serve to facilitate the ingestion of food (e.g. sucklin ...

, and

chin The chin is the forward pointed part of the anterior mandible (List_of_human_anatomical_regions#Regions, 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 we ...

. The mandibular nerve also innervates the

muscles of mastication The four classical muscles of mastication elevate the mandible (closing the jaw) and move it forward/backward and laterally, facilitating biting and chewing. Other muscles are responsible for opening the jaw, namely the geniohyoid, mylohyoid, an ...

Structure

Course

The large sensory root of mandibular nerve emerges from the lateral part of the trigeminal ganglion and exits the

cranial cavity The cranial cavity, also known as intracranial space, is the space within the skull that accommodates the brain. The skull is also known as the cranium. The cranial cavity is formed by eight cranial bones known as the neurocranium that in human ...

through the foramen ovale. The motor root (Latin: ''radix motoria'' s. ''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, or cranium, is typically a bony enclosure around the brain of a vertebrate. In some fish, and amphibians, the skull is of cartilage. The skull is at the head end of the vertebrate. In the human, the skull comprises two prominent ...

. 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 division and a large posterior division.

Branches

The mandibular nerve gives off the following branches: * From the main trunk (before the division): ** meningeal branch (nervus spinosus) (sensory) ** medial pterygoid nerve (motor) * From the anterior division: ** masseteric nerve (mixed) ** deep temporal nerves (mixed) ** buccal nerve (sensory) ** lateral pterygoid nerve (motor) * From the posterior division: ** auriculotemporal nerve (sensory) ** lingual nerve (sensory) ** inferior alveolar nerve (mixed) *** mylohyoid nerve (motor) *** incisive branch (sensory) *** mental nerve (sensory)

Distribution

Anterior Division (Motor Innervation -

Muscles of mastication The four classical muscles of mastication elevate the mandible (closing the jaw) and move it forward/backward and laterally, facilitating biting and chewing. Other muscles are responsible for opening the jaw, namely the geniohyoid, mylohyoid, an ...

) * Masseteric nerve ** Masseter muscle * Medial pterygoid nerve ** Medial pterygoid muscle ** Tensor tympani muscle ** Tensor veli palatini (via tensor veli palatini branch) * Lateral pterygoid nerve ** Lateral pterygoid muscle * Deep temporal nerve ** Temporalis muscle (Sensory Innervation) * Buccal nerve ** Inside of the cheek ( buccal mucosa) * Nervous spinosus (sensory)
Posterior Division Lingual Split
(general sensory innervation (''not'' special sensory for taste)) * Anterior 2/3 of

Tongue The tongue is a Muscle, muscular organ (anatomy), organ in the mouth of a typical tetrapod. It manipulates food for chewing and swallowing as part of the digestive system, digestive process, and is the primary organ of taste. The tongue's upper s ...

(

mucous membrane A mucous membrane or mucosa is a membrane that lines various cavities in the body of an organism and covers the surface of internal organs. It consists of one or more layers of epithelial cells overlying a layer of loose connective tissue. It ...

) 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, tear ...

and Mucoperiosteum of mandibular teeth *

Chin The chin is the forward pointed part of the anterior mandible (List_of_human_anatomical_regions#Regions, 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 we ...

and

Lower Lip The lips are a horizontal pair of soft appendages attached to the jaws and are the most visible part of the mouth of many animals, including humans. Mammal lips are soft, movable and serve to facilitate the ingestion of food (e.g. sucklin ...

Auriculotemporal Split *

Scalp The scalp is the area of the head where head hair grows. It is made up of skin, layers of connective and fibrous tissues, and the membrane of the skull. Anatomically, the scalp is part of the epicranium, a collection of structures covering th ...

( 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

* * * () {{Authority control Trigeminal nerve Cranial nerves Otorhinolaryngology Nervous system Nerves of the head and neck Neurology