Functional Anatomy of Mandibular Nerve

Abstract

The mandibular nerve is the largest branch of the trigeminal nerve. It innervates the mandibular teeth, gums, skin of the temporal region, ear, lower lip, the lower part of the face, muscles of mastication, and mucous membrane of the anterior 2/3 of the tongue. The mandibular nerve is the main pharyngeal nerve arch. The sensory and motor fibers in the mandibular nerve originate from two roots: the sensory root, which originates from the semilunar ganglion, and the motor root, which originates from the motor nucleus. The mandibular nerve has a mixture of sensory and motor nerves and motor and sensory functions. Face, cheeks and temples, oral cavity, teeth and gums, nasal cavity and sinuses, and temporomandibular joints and muscles. Trauma to the mandible can damage or tear the inferior alveolar nerve in the mandibular canal, causing sensory loss distal to the lesion. Local anesthesia of the inferior alveolar nerve is generally reserved for dental procedures. Local anesthetic injection into the oral mucosa on the medial side of the mandible can also involve the nearby lingual nerve, thus affecting the tongue and the inside of the mouth. The close connection between the submandibular canal and the lingual nerve is important in root canal infections and surgical procedures.

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“…It arises from the skull by the oval foramen and divides into two trunks: the anterior one from where the buccal nerve and the motor fibers arise, and the larger posterior trunk from where the auriculotemporal nerve comes out and wraps around the medial meningeal artery, supplying sensory innervation to the cutaneous tissue around the auricula and temporal regions. Furthermore, the posterior trunk divides into two main splits: the lingual and inferior alveolar nerves [ 1 , 2 ].…”

“…The incisive branch is a terminal branch of the inferior alveolar nerve, which innervates the incisive group, the inferior canines, and the first inferior premolar. The mental nerve arises from the bone and supplies the innervation of the skin over the chin and the mucosa of the lower lip, as well as the buccal gingiva from the midline to the mental foramen [ 2 ].…”

“…It is situated medial to the inferior alveolar nerve and enters in the floor of the mouth near the lingual face of the inferior wisdom tooth. This nerve supplies the sensitive innervation of the lingual side of the inferior jaw and the mucosa covering the front two-thirds of the tongue [ 1 , 2 ].…”