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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
- trigeminal nerve (CN V)
- mandibular nerve (V3)
- anterior division of mandibular nerve
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
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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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