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Front 1

MANDIBULAR NERVE

INFERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE

BEFORE ENTERING THE MANDIBULAR FORAMEN...

Back 1

b. Before entering the mandibular foramen, the inferior alveolar nerve
gives off the nerve to the mylohyoid, which runs in the mylohyoid
groove and then on the inferior surface ofthe mylohyoid muscle; the
nerve to the mylohyoid innervates the mylohyoid and anterior belly
of the digastric

Front 2

MANDIBULAR NERVE

INFERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE

WITHIN THE MANDIBULAR CANAL...

Back 2

c. Within the mandibular canal the inferior alveolar nerve provides sen-
sory innervation to the lower teeth and gums; at the second premolar
it gives off the mental nerve, which emerges from the mental fora-
men and provides cutaneous innervation to the lower lip and chin

Front 3

CLINICAL NOTE

DENTISTS VS.
INF. ALVEOLAR NERVE

Back 3

d. Clinical note: dentists often anesthetize the lower teeth and gums
with an injection into mucosa adjacent to the inferior alveolar nerve,
near its point of entry into the mandibular foramen (perhaps using
the lingula as a palpable landmark); since the mental nerve is a branch
of the inferior alveolar nerve, the lower lip and chin are also anes-
thetized, and, if the nearby lingual nerve is also affected, the ante-
rior two-thirds ofthe tongue will be anesthetized as well

Front 4

MAXILLARY NERVE

TRAVERSES...

Back 4

B. Maxillary nerve

1. Traverses foramen rotundum and emerges into the pterygopalatine fossa;
its branches to the upper teeth and gums are noted below

Front 5

MAXILLARY NERVE

POSTERIOR SUPERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE

Back 5

2. Posterior superior alveolar nerve: its branches enter the alveolar
foramina on the infratemporal surface ofthe maxilla and supply the upper
molars

Front 6

MAXILLARY NERVE

MIDDLE SUPERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE

Back 6

3. Middle superior alveolar nerve: arises from the infraorbital nerve as it
courses forward in the infraorbital canal; descends within the lateral wall
ofthe maxillary sinus and supplies the upper premolars

Front 7

MAXILLARY NERVE

ANTERIOR SUPERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE

Back 7

4. Anterior superior alveolar nerve: arises from the infraorbital nerve just
before it emerges from the infraorbital foramen; descends within the
anterior wall of the maxillary sinus and supplies the upper canine and
incisors

Front 8

MAXILLARY ARTERY

COURSES ANTERIORLY...

Back 8

A. Maxillary artery

1. Courses anteriorly, deep to the neck ofthe mandible, and then deep or
superficial to the lateral pterygoid, before entering the pterygomaxillary
fissure and pterygopalatine fossa; its branches are noted below

Front 9

MAXILLARY ARTERY

DEEP AURICULAR ARTERY

Back 9

2. Deep auricular artery: supplies the temporomandibular joint and then penetrates the external acoustic meatus, supplying it and the tympanic
membrane