The Trigeminal Nerve - Mandibular branch

Question 1

Describe the pathway of the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve.

Answer 1

Trigeminal ganglion

Foramen ovale (middle cranial fossa)

Infratemporal fossa

Question 2

Describe the functions of the mandibular branch.

Answer 2

SENSORY AND MOTOR.
Motor - muscles of mastication

Sensory;
Lower lip
chin 
mandibular teeth 
Anterior 2/3rds of tongue (special sensory)

Question 3

List the branches of the mandibular nerve.

Answer 3

Anterior trunk:
Buccal nerve

Motor fibres to the muscles of mastication. (all except the medial pterygoid - motor fibres comes from the main trunk not ant or post)

Posterior trunk:
Auriculotemporal nerve

Lingual nerve

Inferior alveolar nerve 9
Mental nerve
Myohyoid (motor function)

Question 4

List the nerves in the anterior trunk of the mandibular branch.

Answer 4

Anterior trunk:
Buccal nerve

Motor fibres to the muscles of mastication.
(except medial pterygoid - fibres from mian trunk)

Question 5

List the nerves in the posterior trunk of the mandibular branch.

Answer 5

Posterior trunk:
Auriculotemporal nerve

Lingual nerve

Inferior alveolar nerve
Mental nerve
Myohyoid (motor function)

Question 6

List the contents of the infratemporal fossa.

Answer 6

Muscles
Medial pterygoid
Lateral pterygoid

Arteries:
External carotid artery
Maxillary artery

Question 7

Describe the relationship between the mandibular branch of the trigemnial and the facial nerve.

Answer 7

The lingual nerve - branch of the posterior mandibular trunk of the trigaminal nerve - carries special sensory fibres for taste to the anterior 2/3rds of the tongue and parasympathetic fibres to the submandibular and sublingual glands via the CHRODA TYMPANI (branch of the facial nerve CN 7)

Question 8

What does the auriculotemporal branch of the posterior trunk of the mandibular branch of the trigemnial nerve carry?

Answer 8

Parasympathetic secretomotor fibres to the parotid gland.

Question 9

What is the only muscle of mastication not to be supplied by the anterior trunk of the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve? Where does its motor fibres arise from?

Answer 9

Medial pterygoid

Motor fibres arise from the main trunk of the mandibular nerve (not the anterior or posterior trunks)