The masseteric nerve is a nerve of the face. It is a branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3). It passes through the mandibular notch to reach masseter muscle. It provides motor innervation the masseter muscle, and sensory innervation to the temporomandibular joint.
| Masseteric nerve | |
|---|---|
 Mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. (Masseteric visible near center.) | |
| Details | |
| From | Mandibular nerve |
| Innervates | Masseter muscle, temporomandibular joint |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | nervus massetericus |
| TA98 | A14.2.01.070 |
| TA2 | 6253 |
| FMA | 53103 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
Structure
editOrigin
editThe masseteric nerve is a branch of (the anterior division of) the mandibular nerve (CN V3) (itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)).[1][2]
Course
editIt passes laterally superior to the lateral pterygoid muscle, anterior to the temporomandibular joint, and posterior to the tendon of the temporalis muscle. It crosses (the posterior portion of) the mandibular notch alongside the masseteric artery before branching out upon the surface of the masseter muscle, then entering the muscle.[2]
Distribution
editThe masseteric nerve provides motor innervation the masseter muscle. It additionally sends articular (sensory) branches to the temporomandibular joint.[2]
Clinical significance
editThe masseteric nerve may be harvested and used to repair paralysis of the facial nerve (CN VII).[3][4]
See also
editReferences
edit
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 894 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- ^ Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). Elsevier Australia. p. 364. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
- ^ a b c Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. p. 680. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Brenner, Erich; Schoeller, Thomas (1998). "Masseteric nerve: A possible donor for facial nerve anastomosis?". Clinical Anatomy. 11 (6): 396–400. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1098-2353(1998)11:6<396::AID-CA5>3.0.CO;2-8. ISSN 1098-2353. PMID 9800919. S2CID 10697813.
- ^ Spira, M (1978-03-01). "Anastomosis of masseteric nerve to lower division of facial nerve for correction of lower facial paralysis. Preliminary report". Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 61 (3): 330–334. doi:10.1097/00006534-197803000-00004. ISSN 1529-4242. PMID 625495. S2CID 42995889.
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