The medial pterygoid nerve (nerve to medial pterygoid,[1] or internal pterygoid nerve[citation needed]) is a nerve of the head. It is a branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3). It supplies the medial pterygoid muscle, the tensor veli palatini muscle, and the tensor tympani muscle.
Medial pterygoid nerve | |
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Details | |
From | Mandibular nerve |
Innervates | Medial pterygoid, tensor veli palatini, tensor tympani |
Identifiers | |
Latin | nervus pterygoideus internus, nervus pterygoideus medialis |
TA98 | A14.2.01.066 |
TA2 | 6250 |
FMA | 53056 |
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy |
Structure
editOrigin
editThe medial pterygoid nerve is a slender branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3) (itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)).[1]
Course
editIt passes through the otic ganglion (without synapsing).[2][better source needed] It penetrates the deep surface of the medial pterygoid muscle. It issues 1-2 twigs which traverse the otic ganglion (without synapsing) to reach and innervate the tensor tympani muscle, and tensor veli palatini muscle.[1]
Distribution
editThe medial pterygoid nerve supplies the medial pterygoid muscle, tensor tympani muscle, and tensor veli palatini muscle (via the nerve to tensor veli palatini).[1]
The tensor veli palati muscle is the only of the five paired skeletal muscles to the soft palate not innervated by the pharyngeal plexus.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. p. 680. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Barral, Jean-Pierre; Croibier, Alain (2009). "17 - Mandibular nerve". Manual Therapy for the Cranial Nerves. Churchill Livingstone. pp. 139–146. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-3100-7.50020-3. ISBN 978-0-7020-3100-7.