The mylohyoid nerve (or nerve to mylohyoid) is a mixed

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

head A head is the part of an organism which usually includes the ears, brain, forehead, cheeks, chin, eyes, nose, and mouth, each of which aid in various sensory functions such as sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Some very simple ani ...

. It is a branch of the

inferior alveolar nerve The inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) (also the inferior dental nerve) is a sensory branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3) (which is itself the third branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)). The nerve provides sensory innervation to the lower/mandibu ...

. It provides motor innervation the

mylohyoid muscle The mylohyoid muscle or diaphragma oris is a paired muscle of the neck. It runs from the Human mandible, mandible to the hyoid bone, forming the floor of the oral cavity of the human mouth, mouth. It is named after its two attachments near the mo ...

, and the anterior belly of the

digastric muscle The digastric muscle (also digastricus) (named ''digastric'' as it has two 'bellies') is a bilaterally paired suprahyoid muscle located under the jaw. Its posterior belly is attached to the mastoid notch of temporal bone, and its anterior belly ...

. It provides sensory innervation to part of the submental area, and sometimes also the mandibular (lower)

molar teeth The molars or molar teeth are large, flat teeth at the back of the mouth. They are more developed in mammals. They are used primarily to grind food during chewing. The name ''molar'' derives from Latin, ''molaris dens'', meaning "millstone toot ...

, requiring local anaesthesia for some oral procedures.

Structure

Origin

The mylohyoid nerve is a mixed (motor-sensory) branch of the

(which 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 nerves, cranial nerve (CN V). Unlike the other divisions of the trigeminal nerve (ophthalmic nerve, maxillary nerve) which ...

(CN V₃) that 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 ...

(CN V)). It arises just before it enters the mandibular foramen.

Course

It pierces the

sphenomandibular ligament The sphenomandibular ligament (internal lateral ligament) is one of the three ligaments of the temporomandibular joint. It is situated medially to - and generally separate from - the articular capsule of the joint. Superiorly, it is attached to th ...

. It descends in a groove on the deep surface of the

ramus 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 ...

. When it reaches the under surface of the

, it gives branches to the mylohyoid muscle and the anterior belly of the

Distribution

Motor

The mylohyoid nerve supplies the

and the anterior belly of the

Sensory

It provides sensory innervation to the skin of the centre of the submental area. It may also provide some sensory innervation to the mandibular (lower)

Clinical significance

The mylohyoid nerve needs to be blocked during local anaesthesia of the mandibular (lower)

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 ...

to prevent

pain Pain is a distressing feeling often caused by intense or damaging Stimulus (physiology), stimuli. The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as "an unpleasant sense, sensory and emotional experience associated with, or res ...

during oral procedures. It may not be anaesthetised during a block of the

, causing pain.

Additional images

File:Gray178.png, Mandible of human embryo 24 mm. long. Outer aspect. File:Gray181.png, Mandible of human embryo 95 mm. long. Inner aspect. Nuclei of cartilage stippled. File:Slide7cece.JPG, Infratemporal fossa. Lingual and inferior alveolar nerve. Deep dissection. Anterolateral view

References

External links

* - "Infratemporal Fossa: The Inferior Alveolar Nerve and the Vessels" * * () * () {{Authority control Nerves of the head and neck