Mandibular Nerve (CN V3) Anatomy
1. Auriculotemporal nerve
2. Chorda tympani nerve
3. Lingual nerve
4. Inferior alveolar nerve (cut)
5. Nerve to mylohyoid
6. Mental nerve
7. Submandibular ganglion
8. Buccal nerve and buccinator muscle (cut)
9. Mandibular nerve (V3) (anterior division and posterior division)
Comment: The mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve
exits the skull through the foramen ovale and divides into sensory and motor
components. This nerve provides motor control to many of the muscles derived
from the 1st branchial arch, most notably the muscles of mastication. The
sensory components are represented largely by the auriculotemporal, buccal,
lingual, and inferior alveolar nerves.
Preganglionic parasympathetic fibers
arising from the facial nerve join the lingual nerve via the chorda tympani
nerve to synapse in the submandibular ganglion. These postganglionic parasympathetics
innervate the sublingual and submandibular salivary glands and the minor
salivary glands of the mandibular submucosa.
Clinical: Trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux) is a
neurologic condition characterized by episodes of brief, intense facial pain
over 1 of the 3 regions of distribution of CN V. The pain is so intense that
the patient often “winces,” which produces a facial muscle tic. The etiology is
uncertain but could be from vascular compression of the CN V sensory ganglion
and usually is triggered by touch and drafts of cool air on the
face.
