Lateral pterygoid nerve
Distribution of the maxillary and mandibular nerves, and the submaxillary ganglion.
Details
Fromanterior division of mandibular nerve
Innervateslateral pterygoid muscle
Identifiers
Latinnervus pterygoideus externus
nervus pterygoideus lateralis
TA98A14.2.01.072
TA26257
FMA53107
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The lateral pterygoid nerve (or external pterygoid nerve) is a branch of the anterior division of the mandibular nerve.[1] It usually originates as two separate branches that travel near the buccal nerve, and enter the deep surfaces of the superior and inferior heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle.[2]

Nerve pathway

Variation

Some authors describe the lateral pterygoid nerve as a single branch of the anterior division of the mandibular nerve which then bifurcates to enter the two heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle.

References

  1. ^ Thilander, Birgit (1964-01-01). "Fibre Analysis of the Lateral Pterygoid Nerve". Acta Odontologica Scandinavica. 22 (1): 157–163. doi:10.3109/00016356408993971. ISSN 0001-6357. PMID 14158467.
  2. ^ Suer, Michael (2021), Abd-Elsayed, Alaa (ed.), "Anatomy of the Trigeminal Nerve", Trigeminal Nerve Pain: A Guide to Clinical Management, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 5–16, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-60687-9_2, ISBN 978-3-030-60687-9, S2CID 230539881, retrieved 2022-10-14


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