Infratemporal Fossa - LO 5
5. What are the divisions of the mandibular n. (V3)?
The mandibular n. (V3) is a division of the trigeminal n. (CN V) and exits the cranial cavity through the foramen ovale of the sphenoid bone into the infratemporal fossa. It consists of a main trunk, and anterior division, and a larger posterior division. V3 serves several important functions, chiefly: efferent to muscles of mastication and afferent to mandible, mandibular teeth & gingiva, and skin superficial to a portion of the temporal region. V3 will often accompany similarly named branches of the maxillary a., and may be located concurrently.
From the main trunk (proximal to the divisions):
Muscular branches (motor)
Nerve to medial pterygoid
Nerve to tensor tympani
Nerve to tensor veli palatini
Meningeal br. (sensory)
From the anterior division:
Masseteric n. (motor)
Deep temporal nn., anterior & posterior (motor)
Nerve to lateral pterygoid (motor)
(Long) buccal n. (sensory)
From the posterior division:
Auriculotemporal n. (sensory)
Lingual n. (sensory)
Inferior alveolar n. (both)
Nerve to mylohyoid (motor) - before entering mandibular foramen
