Deep temporal nerves
Encyclopedia
The deep temporal nerves, branches of the mandibular division
of the trigeminal nerve
, are two in number, anterior and posterior. They pass above the upper border of the pterygoideus externus and enter the deep surface of the temporalis.
Mandibular nerve
The mandibular nerve is the largest of the three branches of the trigeminal nerve.-Roots:It is made up of two roots:* a large sensory root proceeding from the inferior angle of the trigeminal ganglion....
of the trigeminal nerve
Trigeminal nerve
The trigeminal nerve contains both sensory and motor fibres. It is responsible for sensation in the face and certain motor functions such as biting, chewing, and swallowing. Sensory information from the face and body is processed by parallel pathways in the central nervous system...
, are two in number, anterior and posterior. They pass above the upper border of the pterygoideus externus and enter the deep surface of the temporalis.
Branches
- The posterior branch, of small size, is placed at the back of the temporal fossaTemporal fossaThe temporal fossa is a shallow depression on the side of the skull bounded by the temporal lines and terminating below the level of the zygomatic arch.-Boundaries:...
, and sometimes arises in common with the masseteric nerveMasseteric nerveThe masseteric nerve passes laterally, above the Pterygoideus externus, in front of the temporomandibular articulation, and behind the tendon of the Temporalis; it crosses the mandibular notch with the masseteric artery, to the deep surface of the Masseter, in which it ramifies nearly as far as its...
. - The anterior branch is frequently given off from the buccinator nerve, and then turns upward over the upper head of the pterygoideus externus.
- Frequently a third or intermediate branch is present.