General Anatomy: Branches of the Mandibular Nerve

The buccal branch of the mandibular nerve traverses the ramus of the mandible and sits on the lateral surface of the buccinator muscle in the cheek.

The auriculotemporal nerve carries autonomic fibers to the parotid gland, responsible for salivary gland function.

The buccal branch of the mandibular nerve and the buccal branches of the facial nerve connect with each other.

Its primary role is to move the muscles related to chewing.

The auriculotemporal nerve originates as two branches that encircle the middle meningeal artery before merging behind it.

The Meningeal Branch travels back into the middle cranial fossa via the foramen spinosum.

The Nerve to the Medial Pterygoid Muscle supplies the lateral pterygoid and medial pterygoid muscles.

The buccal branch of the mandibular nerve supplies the buccal sulcus and the buccal gingiva, both located in the cheek.

The Masseteric nerve is usually the first branch of the anterior trunk of the mandibular nerve.

The Masseteric nerve branches into the masseter muscle and sends a branch to the temporomandibular joint.

There can be up to three deep temporal nerves.

The Meningeal Branch (Nervus Spinosus) provides innervation to the mucosa of the mastoid antrum and mastoid air cells.

The Mandibular nerve supplies structures derived from the first branchial arch, a key developmental structure.

Sensory fibers from the mandibular nerve provide sensation to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.

The motor fibers of the mandibular nerve control the four muscles of mastication (chewing), mylohyoid, and the anterior belly of the digastric.

After leaving the foramen ovale, the mandibular nerve sits on the tensor veli palatini muscle.

The motor root of the mandibular nerve is located posteromedially compared to the sensory root within the foramen ovale.

Emissary veins, the lesser petrosal nerve, and the accessory meningeal artery accompany the roots of the mandibular nerve within the foramen ovale.